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Meaning & use

assertive

adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/əˈsɜːtɪv/
US/əˈsɜːrtɪv/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparableapproving

    Willing to state what you want or believe clearly and confidently, while still respecting other people.

    Grammar: Can follow a verb or come before a noun: she is assertive; an assertive manager.

    Patterns

    • be assertive with someone
    • be assertive about something

    She learned to be more assertive in meetings instead of staying silent.

    An assertive reply is calm, direct and polite.

    He was assertive about his need for a day off.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Strong and forceful in manner or design, making a clear statement.

    Grammar: Describes things as well as people: an assertive flavor.

    The chef chose an assertive blend of spices for the stew.

    The team made an assertive start to the match.

    She wore an assertive shade of red to the interview.

Word forms

comparativemore assertive
superlativemost assertive

Common combinations

assertive communication
The workshop teaches assertive communication for busy teams.
become more assertive
After the course, he became more assertive at work.
assertive without being aggressive
It's possible to be assertive without being aggressive.
assertive leader
The company needs an assertive leader during this crisis.
assertive style
Her assertive style won respect from clients.

Synonyms and how they differ

confident
Confident describes feeling sure of yourself, while assertive describes how you actually voice your needs.
forceful
Forceful is stronger and can ignore others' views, while assertive stays respectful.
aggressive
Aggressive suggests hostile pressure, so it is negative where assertive is usually positive.
self-assured
Self-assured stresses inner calm and certainty, not the act of speaking up.

Opposites

timidpassive

Word family

assert verb
to state firmly or defend a claim
assertion noun
a firm statement of belief
assertively adverb
in a clear and confident manner
assertiveness noun
the quality of being assertive

Commonly confused: assertive or aggressive?

assertive vs aggressive

Aggressive means pushing hostile pressure on others; assertive means standing up for yourself fairly.

Practice

Which describes an assertive reply to a coworker who keeps interrupting you?

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