unaggressive

IPA/ˌʌn.əˈɡres.ɪv/
IPA/ˌʌn.əˈɡres.ɪv/

unaggressive — adjective

  • unaggressivepositive
  • more unaggressivecomparative
  • most unaggressivesuperlative

1. not acting in a hostile or violent way towards others; naturally peaceful and un

1.形容詞B2
釋義

not acting in a hostile or violent way towards others; naturally peaceful and unlikely to start fights or conflicts

例句

Emeka's dog looks large but is completely unaggressive around small children.

unaggressive + around [group]

The zookeeper chose the unaggressive panda for the school's visiting programme.

attributive: 'unaggressive + [animal]'

同義詞
  • peaceful

    broader — covers entire situations and atmospheres, not only individual temperament

  • mild

    suggests gentleness of character; less focused on the absence of hostility

  • placid

    implies a calm, even-tempered nature that is not easily stirred

反義詞
  • aggressive

    direct opposite — ready to attack or confront

  • hostile

    showing strong dislike or ill will, often with threatening behaviour

文法句型

unaggressive + noun

unaggressive + towards + noun

用法筆記

Often used to describe animals and people's temperaments. Contrast with sense 2 (GENTLE APPROACH): this sense is about hostility and violence, not about methods for achieving goals.

常見錯誤

❌He was too unaggressive to ask for a pay rise.
✅He was too passive to ask for a pay rise.
💡'unaggressive' in this sense means not hostile or violent; 'passive' is the right word when someone fails to take action or stand up for themselves.

2. not using pushy or forceful methods to get what you want, especially in business

2.形容詞B2
釋義

not using pushy or forceful methods to get what you want, especially in business, competition, or personal advancement

例句

Farah's unaggressive sales pitch still won her the biggest client of the year.

unaggressive + [business noun]

Jun-seo took an unaggressive approach to the negotiation and listened more than he spoke.

unaggressive + approach

同義詞
  • low-key

    informal; describes an understated or restrained style in any situation

  • restrained

    suggests holding back deliberately, often through self-control

  • soft-sell

    specific to sales and marketing; the opposite of a hard-sell approach

反義詞
  • aggressive

    direct opposite — using forceful, pushy methods to get ahead

  • pushy

    informal; excessively forward or assertive in pursuing one's aims

文法句型

unaggressive + noun (approach, strategy, style, manner)

unaggressive + in + gerund

用法筆記

Frequently used in professional and competitive contexts to describe a non-forceful style. Distinguish from sense 1 (NOT HOSTILE): this sense is about methods and approaches, not about temperament or violence.

常見錯誤

❌The dog was unaggressive in chasing the ball.
✅The dog was half-hearted in chasing the ball.
💡sense 2 describes methods for achieving goals in human contexts (business, competition); it does not describe an animal's level of energy or enthusiasm.