as in intensity
the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression)
the assertiveness with which he voices his opinions intimidates some people
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Recent Examples of assertiveness
Diplomacy, Tact & Emotional Intelligence, where leaders need to navigate the complex dynamics (both on the individual and organizational levels) which are involved in shifting from competition to collaboration—balancing assertiveness with empathy and care.
—
Edyta Pacuk, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Living with Israel’s military assertiveness Israel, the unquestioned military power and sole nuclear weapons state in the region, has long posed particularly deep political dilemmas to Gulf Arab states.
—David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Brasília increasingly views the rise of a multipolar world—driven by a number of major powers and the growing assertiveness of the global South—as both an imperative and an opportunity.
—Hussein Kalout, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2025
The deployment signaled growing international assertiveness by the isolated state and highlighted its strong ties with Russia.
—Robert Birsel
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
With Hazard’s permission, Lauper dramatically rewrote the track, transforming it into a feminist statement emphasizing female desire, exuberance and assertiveness.
—Jessi Roti, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
Don't let our stubbornness and assertiveness take over.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 6 Aug. 2025
Edyta Pacuk, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Living with Israel’s military assertiveness Israel, the unquestioned military power and sole nuclear weapons state in the region, has long posed particularly deep political dilemmas to Gulf Arab states.
—David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
Brasília increasingly views the rise of a multipolar world—driven by a number of major powers and the growing assertiveness of the global South—as both an imperative and an opportunity.
—Hussein Kalout, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2025
The deployment signaled growing international assertiveness by the isolated state and highlighted its strong ties with Russia.
—Robert Birsel
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
With Hazard’s permission, Lauper dramatically rewrote the track, transforming it into a feminist statement emphasizing female desire, exuberance and assertiveness.
—Jessi Roti, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
Don't let our stubbornness and assertiveness take over.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assertiveness
Noun
-
That’s why Mazzulla upped the intensity at training camp.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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There’s that kind of intensity and fuel that has fanned the fire of Mirador in someways that’s really elevated the band and the performances.—
Gary Graff,
Billboard,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Just nothing, not dictating at the point of attack, no aggressiveness to it at all.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness in the Gleason grading system, which ranges from 6 to 10, with 10 being the most aggressive.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Much like the Type 100, the new iteration will be a lighter tank, with more emphasis on its data-heavy defensive systems.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
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James finds the wit in every line of Perkins’ script, playing his characters straight and with emotional depth while still showing an unerring instinct for where to place his verbal emphasis for maximum laughs as well as horror.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assertiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assertiveness. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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