aggressively
aggressively — adverb
1. showing anger and a wish to attack or hurt someone, often through shouting, thre
showing anger and a wish to attack or hurt someone, often through shouting, threats, or physical force.
The drunk man shouted aggressively at the bartender after his card was declined.
verb + aggressively (manner of speech)
Priya pushed the gate aggressively, almost knocking the security guard over.
The German shepherd barked aggressively whenever a stranger walked past Mrs. Lin's fence.
Two teenagers were behaving aggressively on the bus, so the driver called the police.
When questioned, the suspect responded aggressively and tried to grab the officer's arm.
- violently
stronger; involves actual physical force
- hostilely
more formal; emphasises an unfriendly attitude
- menacingly
focuses on the threat felt by the other person
- peacefully
without anger or violence
- gently
with care and kindness
文法句型
verb + aggressively
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person or animal; the verb is one of speech, movement, or behaviour (shout, push, bark, behave). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense always carries anger or threat, while sense 2 is about determined effort, not hostility.
常見錯誤
2. with strong determination and energy, doing whatever is needed to win, beat riva
with strong determination and energy, doing whatever is needed to win, beat rivals, or reach a goal — common in business, sport, and politics.
Samsung marketed the new phone aggressively, with adverts on every train platform in Taipei.
market + aggressively (business strategy)
The young senator campaigned aggressively in rural districts to win older voters.
Liverpool defended aggressively in the second half and forced two early mistakes.
Wen negotiated aggressively and pushed the price down by almost twenty percent.
The startup is competing aggressively against three larger food-delivery apps in the city.
- forcefully
emphasises strength of action; less competitive nuance
- assertively
calmer; about stating one's position firmly
- boldly
highlights courage to take risks
- cautiously
carefully and slowly, avoiding risk
- passively
without making active effort
文法句型
verb + aggressively
用法筆記
Frequently pairs with verbs of strategy and rivalry: market, promote, sell, campaign, compete, negotiate, pursue. Carries no anger — the tone is admiring or neutral. Compare with sense 1 (real hostility) and sense 3 (speed of growth, not effort).
常見錯誤
3. growing or spreading much faster and farther than expected within a short period
growing or spreading much faster and farther than expected within a short period — typical of companies, plants, or diseases.
The bamboo in our garden has spread aggressively and now reaches the neighbour's wall.
spread + aggressively (plants)
Shopee expanded aggressively across Southeast Asia between 2018 and 2022.
expand + aggressively (corporate growth)
The tumour was growing aggressively, doubling in size within just three months.
Honey fungus spreads aggressively underground and can kill nearby trees in one season.
The new café chain is opening branches aggressively, with twelve stores planned for Taichung.
- rapidly
neutral; just about speed, no scale nuance
- explosively
stronger; suggests sudden and dramatic growth
- vigorously
emphasises healthy energy of growth
文法句型
verb + aggressively
用法筆記
Subject is the thing that grows or spreads (a company, plant, disease, market), not a person making effort. The focus is on speed and scale of change. Distinguish from sense 2, which describes deliberate human action, not the growth itself.
常見錯誤
4. using strong drugs, large doses, or intensive procedures to fight a serious illn
using strong drugs, large doses, or intensive procedures to fight a serious illness as quickly as possible.
Doctors treated the leukaemia aggressively with high-dose chemotherapy and a stem-cell transplant.
treat + aggressively (medical)
Dr. Noa decided to manage the infection aggressively before it reached the patient's lungs.
The hospital is screening patients aggressively to catch early-stage cancers.
Surgeons removed the tumour aggressively, taking a wide margin of healthy tissue around it.
Public-health teams responded aggressively to the dengue outbreak by spraying every infected district.
- intensively
more neutral medical term; emphasises high level of care
- proactively
highlights early action before symptoms worsen
- conservatively
with milder, more cautious treatment
文法句型
verb + aggressively
用法筆記
Domain-restricted: medicine and public health. Verbs are clinical actions: treat, manage, screen, remove, respond. Implies stronger or earlier intervention than usual, often with greater risk of side effects. Distinguish from sense 2 — the goal here is curing disease, not winning competition.