assertive — having or showing a confident and forceful personality; expressing opinions clearly and firmly
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: having or showing a confident and forceful personality; expressing opinions clearly and firmly
Pronunciation (IPA): /əˈsɜːrtɪv/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother became more assertive after taking a self-defense class and now she argues with telemarketers for fun.
- Being assertive doesn't mean being aggressive; it means standing up for yourself respectfully.
- He was so assertive during the negotiation that he convinced them to pay him for the privilege of working overtime.
assertive
ADJECTIVE[/əˈsɜːrtɪv/]
having or showing a confident and forceful personality; expressing opinions clearly and firmly

She stayed assertive in the meeting, calmly stating her terms without backing down.

AS(toward) + SERT(put) — being assertive means stepping toward the group to put your ideas firmly on the table.

Tired of being passive, he stood on his desk to make an assertive speech.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'assertus', the past participle of 'asserere' meaning 'to claim or affirm', combined with the suffix '-ive' which forms adjectives indicating a tendency or quality.
Breakdown
assert (from Latin asserere, to claim) + -ive (adjective suffix indicating tendency) = assertive
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother became more assertive after taking a self-defense class and now she argues with telemarketers for fun.”
“Being assertive doesn't mean being aggressive; it means standing up for yourself respectfully.”
“He was so assertive during the negotiation that he convinced them to pay him for the privilege of working overtime.”
“The training program helps employees become more assertive in workplace communication.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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