3 syllables: Ag, gress, ive. Stress on gress.
uh-GRES-iv
/əˈɡɹɛsɪv/
Aggressive is pronounced uh-GRES-iv (/əˈɡɹɛsɪv/). It has three syllables (Ag-gress-ive), with the stress on "gress". Aggressive (adj.) describes behavior or attitudes that are forceful, confrontational, or insistent. It conveys intensity and a readiness to confront or challenge, often implying aggression or hostility. The term can apply to actions, rhetoric, or demeanor in social, professional, or competitive contexts.
adjectiveAggressive (adj.) describes behavior or attitudes that are forceful, confrontational, or insistent. It conveys intensity and a readiness to confront or challenge, often implying aggression or hostility. The term can apply to actions, rhetoric, or demeanor in social, professional, or competitive contexts.
"Her tone became more aggressive as she pressed for an answer."
"The marketing campaign took an aggressive approach to capturing market share."
"He faced criticism for his aggressive stance in the negotiations."
Pronounce as ah-GRES-siv, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: /əˈɡrɛsɪv/. Start with a schwa before a strong 'GR' cluster, then /ɛ/ as in 'bed', ending with /sɪv/. Practicing the transition from the vowel to the /gr/ cluster helps avoid rushing the 'gr' sound. You can listen to the pronunciation in online dictionaries to hear the exact rhythm.
Two common errors are misplacing the primary stress and flattening the middle syllable. People often say ag-GRESS-ive or a-GRÉS-sive with errant pitch. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable and ensure the /gr/ cluster lands immediately after the /ə/ or /əˈ/ onset, then /sɪv/ with a clear /s/ and short /ɪ/. Use a quick, crisp /gr/ release instead of a blended or softened consonant cluster.
In US/UK/AU you’ll share /əˈɡrɛsɪv/ but rhoticity matters: US tends to be more rhotic (slightly more pronounced r*), while UK and AU are non-rhotic in many accents, subtly affecting preceding vowels. The /ɛ/ vowel in 'gress' is centralized less in some US varieties, slightly higher in some UK accents. The overall rhythm and vowel quality vary by speaker, but the primary stress remains on the second syllable across all three.
The difficulty centers on the /gr/ consonant cluster following a short schwa and maintaining a crisp, quick transition into /ˈɡrɛsɪv/ while avoiding a drawn-out /ɡr/ or overly elongated second syllable. The sequence /əˈɡrɛsɪv/ requires precise tongue positioning for the /ɡ/ stop, the hard /r/ (in non-rhotic accents it’s less pronounced), and the palatal/ alveolar blend with /gr/. Mastery comes from controlled timing and consistent vowel shortening in the second syllable.
No, Aggressive has no silent letters. All letters contribute to its pronunciation, with the syllable structure positive: a- gress- ive. The 'i' in the final syllable is pronounced as a short /ɪ/ followed by a /v/ sound; the initial 'A' has a reduced schwa, not a full vowel.
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Aggressive comes from the Late Latin aggressivus, which means attacking or advancing. The root aggress- derives from aggredi, meaning to approach, advance, or attack, formed from ad- ‘to’ + gradi ‘to step’. By the 16th century in English, aggressive described military or forceful action and personality. The sense broadened in the 19th and 20th centuries to cover assertive or hostile behavior in various contexts, including politics, sports, and everyday interactions. The pronunciation and spelling indicate the original prefix a- (toward) fused with gr- and the French-derived -s- sound. The word’s usage reflects evolving social norms about assertiveness and boundaries, with connotations that range from bold and proactive to threatening or violent, depending on context. First known use in English dates to the 14th-15th centuries in forms akin to aggressivus in learned or formal Latin, later entering English through Old French influences before stabilizing in modern form with the suffix -ive.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Aggressive" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Aggressive" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Aggressive"
-ive sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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