Synonyms for aggression
Most common
assault attack invasion encroachment aggressiveness hostility
Definitions
- n. 1
The act of initiating hostilities or invasion.
- n. 2
The practice or habit of launching attacks.
Related words
- Word family
- aggress aggressive aggressiveness aggressor
- Phrases
- cute aggression war of aggression
Forms
- Plural
- aggressions → assaults, attacks, invasions, encroachments…
Choose the right word
An attack may be by word; an aggression is always by deed. An assault may be upon the person, an aggression is upon rights, possessions, etc.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- attack The fortress was secure from every kind of attack.
- assault Tom currently faces charges of aggravated assault.
- invasion Taiwan is preparing itself for a Chinese invasion.
- hostility Hostility destroys things. Good will builds things.
- aggressiveness He has none of his father's aggressiveness.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| aggression | falling | |
| attack | steady | |
| assault | rising | |
| invasion | steady | |
| encroachment | falling | |
| hostility | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- onset2
- 6 letters
- attack2
- 7 letters
- assault2, offense2, offence
- 8 letters
- invasion3
- 9 letters
- hostility4, onslaught2, incursion3
- 12 letters
- encroachment3, aggressivity5
- 14 letters
- aggressiveness4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (onset2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- agression
- Italiano
- aggressione
- Español
- agresión
- Deutsch
- Aggression