assertive

Language: en

🇬🇧 /əˈsɜːtɪv/ 🇺🇸 /əˈsɜrtɪv/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Having or showing a confident and forceful personality; able to express one's opinions and needs clearly and directly without being aggressive.; Characterized by bold or confident statements and behavior; tending to assert oneself.

🔗 Details

Word forms

Comparative: more assertive Superlative: most assertive

Collocations

assertive behaviorassertive communicationbe assertiveassertive styleassertive training

Derivatives

assertivelyassertivenessassertassertionassertable

Synonyms

confidentforcefulself-assuredbolddecisiveforthright

Antonyms

passivesubmissivetimidmeek

Commonly confused

aggressive
EN: 'Assertive' implies confident self-expression without hostility; 'aggressive' implies forcefulness that may be hostile or domineering.
assertation
EN: 'Assertation' is a non-standard/rare form; the correct noun is 'assertion'.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not form the noun as 'assertation'; the standard noun is 'assertion'. Remember the double 's' in 'assertive'.

💬 Examples

  1. She was assertive enough to negotiate a higher salary during her performance review.

  2. His assertive leadership style helped the team make quick decisions under pressure.