Aggressiveness

characterized by or tending toward unprovoked offensives, attacks, invasions, or the like; militantly forward or menacing:
aggressive acts against a neighboring country.
making an all-out effort to win or succeed; competitive:
an aggressive basketball player.
vigorously energetic, especially in the use of initiative and forcefulness:
an aggressive salesperson.
boldly assertive and forward; pushy:
an aggressive driver.
emphasizing maximum growth and capital gains over quality, security, and income:
an aggressive mutual fund.
Medicine/Medical.

(of a disease or tumor) spreading rapidly or highly invasive; difficult or impossible to treat successfully.
pertaining to a risky surgery or treatment, or to a medication that has grave side effects:
aggressive chemotherapy.

Contemporary Examples

Presidents like Teddy Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson wore their aggressiveness as a badge of honor.
The Upside of Bullying Niall Stanage February 22, 2010

And the Gulf is just one front with Iran while on others increasing Iranian aggressiveness worries U.S. military commanders.
Shocking Gulf Firefight Caught on Tape Michael Adler July 4, 2011

Nothing compares to the lack of transparency, and the aggressiveness of this administration.
Was Reporter Sharyl Attkisson Too Right-Wing for CBS? Lloyd Grove October 28, 2014

It serves us well in our home city, but perhaps gives us an unwanted air of paranoia and aggressiveness in, say, Hailey, Idaho.
The Aurora Shooting Made One Prominent Hollywood Producer Too Scared to Go to The Multiplex Rick Schwartz August 25, 2012

Historical Examples

The percept has an aggressiveness which does not belong to the image.
The Analysis of Mind Bertrand Russell

His boldness and aggressiveness were unique in the history of Indian warfare.
The Indian Today Charles A. Eastman

Nevertheless, while he had gained in diplomacy, he had relaxed no whit in aggressiveness.
Lefty Locke Pitcher-Manager Burt L. Standish

Now her stinging tongue was dumb, and there was no aggressiveness in her manner.
‘Me-Smith’ Caroline Lockhart

There was aggressiveness about the engines and the smell of the raw cotton.
From Sea to Sea Rudyard Kipling

Madame’s husband instantly showed a diminution of aggressiveness.
Love at Paddington W. Pett Ridge

adjective
quarrelsome or belligerent: an aggressive remark
assertive; vigorous: an aggressive business executive
adj.

1791, from Latin aggress-, past participle stem of aggredi (see aggression) + -ive. In psychological use from 1913, first in translations of Freud. Related: Aggressively; aggressiveness.

aggressive ag·gres·sive (ə-grěs’ĭv)
adj.

Inclined to behave in a hostile fashion.

Tending to spread quickly, as a tumor; fast-growing.