aggressor
noun
ag·gres·sor ə-ˈgre-sər 
: one that commits or practices aggression
Synonyms
- invader
- raider
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Each country accused the other of being the aggressor. a group of smaller states had formed an alliance to deter potential aggressors
Recent Examples on the Web Earlier this year, multiple friends of the couple also told Rolling Stone Clenney had been the aggressor in an abusive relationship with Obumseli. 
Andrea Marks, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2022 Syed denied being the aggressor, but surveillance video obtained by law enforcement showed the opposite, Duran said. Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 18 Aug. 2022 An Indianapolis defense that has been the aggressor through most of training camp in Grand Park opened its joint practices against the Detroit Lions by dominating 1-on-1 drills and making plays in 7-on-7. The Indianapolis Star, 18 Aug. 2022 Under mounting pressure from the victim's family and their attorney Larry Handfield, the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office launched a fresh investigation into the tragic slaying and determined that Clenney was the aggressor. Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 12 Aug. 2022 Officers determined that the woman was the aggressor and arrested the 52-year-old for domestic violence. cleveland, 9 Aug. 2022 Any notion that the Big 12 is going to be the aggressor is, for now, pretty much unfounded, but if this Pac-12 media rights number comes back too low to stomach, maybe my opinion changes. Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 July 2022 Coucelos alleged he also was punched by another student on a school bus, but the investigation determined Coucelos himself was the aggressor. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 24 June 2022 Despite the cuts and Laundrie's inconsistencies, one of the officers said Petito must be booked into jail since, under the domestic violence statutes of Utah, she was considered the primary aggressor and Laundrie the victim. Dakin Andone And Chuck Johnston, CNN, 9 Aug. 2022 See More
Andrea Marks, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2022 Syed denied being the aggressor, but surveillance video obtained by law enforcement showed the opposite, Duran said. Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 18 Aug. 2022 An Indianapolis defense that has been the aggressor through most of training camp in Grand Park opened its joint practices against the Detroit Lions by dominating 1-on-1 drills and making plays in 7-on-7. The Indianapolis Star, 18 Aug. 2022 Under mounting pressure from the victim's family and their attorney Larry Handfield, the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office launched a fresh investigation into the tragic slaying and determined that Clenney was the aggressor. Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 12 Aug. 2022 Officers determined that the woman was the aggressor and arrested the 52-year-old for domestic violence. cleveland, 9 Aug. 2022 Any notion that the Big 12 is going to be the aggressor is, for now, pretty much unfounded, but if this Pac-12 media rights number comes back too low to stomach, maybe my opinion changes. Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 July 2022 Coucelos alleged he also was punched by another student on a school bus, but the investigation determined Coucelos himself was the aggressor. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 24 June 2022 Despite the cuts and Laundrie's inconsistencies, one of the officers said Petito must be booked into jail since, under the domestic violence statutes of Utah, she was considered the primary aggressor and Laundrie the victim. Dakin Andone And Chuck Johnston, CNN, 9 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin, "attacker, assailant," from aggredī, adgredī "to approach, attack" + -tor, agent suffix — more at aggress
First Known Use
1585, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
aggressor
noun
ag·gres·sor ə-ˈgre-sər
: a person or a country that engages in hostile action without reasonable cause
Medical Definition
aggressor
noun
ag·gres·sor ə-ˈgres-ər
: one who exhibits aggression
aggressors
noun
as in invaders
one that starts armed conflict against another especially without reasonable cause a group of smaller states had formed an alliance to deter potential aggressors Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- invaders
- raiders
- attackers
- assailants
- militants
- instigators
- plunderers
- initiators
- combatants
- ambushers
- warmongers
- pillagers
- militarists
- belligerents
- hawks
- jingoists
- war hawks
- ambuscaders
- forayers
- jingoes
- cobelligerents
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- defenders
- pacifists
- peacemakers
- doves
- nonbelligerents