Meaning & use

assertive

adjective·Academic

Confident and direct in expressing opinions or needs, without being aggressive.

See it in a sentence

Her assertive tone in the negotiation made it clear she would not accept a lower offer.

Being assertive at work helped him get credit for the ideas he contributed.

A note on using this word

Assertive differs from 'aggressive' in that it respects others while still clearly stating one's own needs or opinions.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

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