aggressiveness
aggressiveness — noun
1. a way of acting that is ready to fight, hurt, or scare others rather than stayin
a way of acting that is ready to fight, hurt, or scare others rather than staying calm.
Nia trained the rescue dog for months to reduce its aggressiveness toward strangers.
aggressiveness toward + [target of hostility]
Coach Erik was fired after his shouting and shoving showed his aggressiveness with the players.
aggressiveness with + [people]
Years of heavy drinking slowly turned Samir's aggressiveness into shouting and broken plates at home.
Doctors linked the patient's sudden aggressiveness to a rare brain illness.
The crowd's growing aggressiveness frightened the families waiting at the gate.
- hostility
stronger sense of open dislike, often between groups
- belligerence
formal; a clear readiness to argue or fight
- gentleness
a calm, kind manner toward others
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person or animal whose behaviour turns hostile; pair it with 'toward' or 'with' to name the target. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about a strong drive to win rather than the wish to harm.
常見錯誤
2. a strong, bold drive toward victory, backed by fast and forceful action.
a strong, bold drive toward victory, backed by fast and forceful action.
Iris built her startup with the kind of aggressiveness that scared off slower rivals.
aggressiveness in a business or competitive context
The home team's aggressiveness in the final minutes earned them two quick goals and the match.
aggressiveness in + [activity]
Investors praised the bank for the aggressiveness of its push into Asia.
Apinya plays chess with a daring aggressiveness, always attacking first.
The bright ads and daily emails showed the firm's marketing aggressiveness, doubling sales within one year.
- assertiveness
milder; confident self-expression without the forceful push
- drive
the inner energy to succeed, without the 'forceful action' part
- passivity
letting things happen instead of pushing for results
用法筆記
Often praised rather than criticised; common in sport, business, and politics. Pair with 'in' to name the activity, or 'of' to point at a specific plan. Unlike sense 1, no wish to harm is implied.
3. the way an illness spreads fast through the body and is hard to stop or cure.
the way an illness spreads fast through the body and is hard to stop or cure.
Tests revealed the aggressiveness of the cancer, which had already reached Beatriz's lungs.
the aggressiveness of + [a disease]
Doctors measured the tumour's aggressiveness before choosing a plan of care.
tumour's aggressiveness as a medical measure
The new flu strain worried scientists because its aggressiveness filled hospital wards within days.
Early scans showed low aggressiveness, so Jisoo's treatment could be gentle.
- virulence
more technical; how harmful or fast-acting an infection is
用法筆記
A medical term, usually paired with 'of' plus a disease, tumour, or strain. Distinguish from sense 4: this rates the illness itself, while sense 4 rates how strong the treatment is.
4. the way a medical treatment is very powerful and may cause harm, because the ill
the way a medical treatment is very powerful and may cause harm, because the illness is serious and hard to cure.
The aggressiveness of the chemotherapy left Rafael weak for weeks afterward.
the aggressiveness of + [a treatment]
Doctors warned Ritu about the aggressiveness of the surgery they had planned.
Because the cancer was rare, the team raised the aggressiveness of the drug.
The aggressiveness of the therapy left patients exhausted, worrying the nurses on the cancer ward.
- intensity
how strong something is, without the 'may cause harm' meaning
用法筆記
Refers to how strong and risky a treatment is, not to the disease. Almost always 'aggressiveness of the [treatment]'. Compare sense 3, which rates the illness rather than the cure.