Assertive | Definition of assertive by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of ASSERTIVE

1

: disposed to or characterized by bold or confident statements and behavior <an assertive leader>

2

: having a strong or distinctive flavor or aroma <assertive wines>

— as·ser·tive·ly adverb

— as·ser·tive·ness noun

See assertive defined for English-language learners

See assertive defined for kids

Examples of ASSERTIVE

When my mother brought my baby sister home on the train from the Chicago adoption agency, she had hired a woman from the South named Arizona, much younger than Hope, vigorous, boisterous, taller, darker, and less acclimated to the behavior expected of servants in an upscale Wasp suburb up North. She was a blithe spirit, as I remember her, assertive, gleeful, expansive, loud and goofy with me when, to tease her, I'd pull on the bow of her apron strings … —Edward Hoagland, Harper's, July 2004
Don't substitute corn syrup or molasses for cane syrup. Corn syrup is thinner, lighter and milder than cane syrup, and molasses is thicker, darker and much more assertive. —Denise Landis, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2002
One of the points I think that's important is the way in which the United States has responded to the initiatives in the African Renaissance, and a lot of the developments that we have seen, in fact, have their roots in Africa. What it means for U.S. policy is that the Africans themselves are being much more assertive than they have been in the past. —Emerge, June 1998
Daily newspaper in Chicago metro region seeks aggressive, assertive crime reporter who thrives on getting obligatory … items done fast in order to devote time to colorful stories about villains, victims and everything in between. —Editor & Publisher, 31 Oct. 1998
[+]more [-]hide

Origin of ASSERTIVE

(see assert)

First Known Use: circa 1619

Related to ASSERTIVE

Synonyms: ambitious, aggressive, enterprising, fierce, go-getting, high-pressure, in-your-face, militant, pushy, self-asserting, self-assertive

Antonyms: ambitionless, low-pressure, nonassertive, unaggressive, unambitious, unassertive, unenterprising

Synonym Discussion of ASSERTIVE

aggressive, militant, assertive, self-assertive mean obtrusively energetic especially in pursuing particular goals. aggressive implies a disposition to dominate often in disregard of others' rights or in determined and energetic pursuit of one's ends <aggressive in his business dealings>. militant also implies a fighting disposition but suggests not self-seeking but devotion to a cause, movement, or principle <militant protesters rallied against the new law>. assertive suggests bold self-confidence in expression of opinion <the more assertive speakers dominated the forum>. self-assertive connotes forwardness or brash self-confidence <a self-assertive young upstart>.

Definition of ASSERTIVE for Kids

: having a bold or confident manner <an assertive attitude>

Learn More About ASSERTIVE

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "assertive"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "assertive"

Nglish: Translation of "assertive" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "assertive" for Arabic speakers

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: assertiveness trainingPrevious Word in the Dictionary: assertion of the consequentAll Words Near: assertive

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up assertive? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

View Seen & Heard Highlights from Around the Site