Origin: Latin suffix -sion
Aggression has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
a disposition to behave aggressively
"His aggressive nature often made him confront others before any conflict had even arisen."
a feeling of hostility that arouses thoughts of attack
"The sudden surge of aggression in his eyes made everyone feel like they were about to be attacked."
violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked
"The sudden aggression from the stray dog terrified the visitors who had never provoked it."
the act of initiating hostilities
"The sudden aggression from the rival team triggered an immediate counterattack in the match."
deliberately unfriendly behavior
"The toddler's deliberate aggression toward his sister involved kicking her while she was sleeping."
The act of initiating hostilities or invasion.
"The sudden aggression by the neighboring nation forced our military to prepare for immediate defense."
In plain English: Aggression is when someone acts hostilely toward others, often by trying to hurt them physically or verbally.
"His aggressive behavior on the soccer field earned him a yellow card from the referee."
Usage: While often used to describe physical violence, aggression also covers non-physical behaviors like verbal abuse or competitive dominance in sports and business contexts. Avoid confusing this noun with the adjective "aggressive," which describes a person's style rather than an action itself.
The word comes from the Latin verb aggredior, which originally meant "to approach, address, or attack." It entered English via Middle French as aggression.