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assertivehaving 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.
💡 Concept

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.
🧠 Mnemonic

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.
🎵 Rhyme

Tired of being passive, he stood on his desk to make an assertive speech.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/əˈsɜːrtɪv/
🇬🇧 UK/əˈsɜːtɪv/

🌳Etymology

Rootassert
Suffix--ive

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

conservativepreservative
conservative
preservative

🔗Collocations

assertive behavior
assertive communication
be more assertive
assertive personality
assertive leadership

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

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.

😄 Fun example

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

confidentbolddecisiveself-assuredforceful

Antonyms

passivetimidsubmissive

Related

assertassertionassertivenessaggressivedominant

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