Many people believe being assertive is rude, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, being assertive means you have respect for others’ thoughts and opinions.

Interested in learning more? We can help. Read on to discover everything you need to know about the word assertive. By the end of this post, you should have a clear understanding of what assertive means and how it’s used in a sentence.

What Is the Definition of Assertive?

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, an individual who is assertive (əˈsɝː.t̬ɪv) behaves confidently and isn’t afraid to say what they want or believe. In other words, the term assertive can be defined as expressing opinions or desires strongly and with confidence.

If you are confidently aggressive or self-assured, you could be described as assertive.

What Is the Origin of the Word Assertive?

The positive declaratory adjective assertive — meaning full of assertion — was first created in the 1560s by combining the verb assert and -ive.

That said, our word of the day comes from Latin assertus, meaning, “claimed” or “defended.”

What Are the Synonyms and Antonyms of Assertive?

Now that you have a much better understanding of the word assertive, let’s take a look at some synonyms and antonyms.

Synonyms and antonyms are tools that can help enrich your overall vocabulary — but what are they?

In short, a synonym is a word or expression that has the same or similar meaning to a given word whereas an antonym has the opposite meaning to a given word.

Synonyms of assertive include:

Ardent
Zealous
Firm
Spirited
Earnest
Resolut
Active
Imperious
Domineering
Full-blooded
Vigorous
Forceful
Aggressive
Pushy
Ambitious
Self-assertive
Bold
Bossy
Commanding
Go getting
Bullish
Potent
Authoritative
In your face
High pressure
Feisty
Gung ho
Dauntless
Sure of oneself
Believe in oneself
Can do
Strong-willed
Steely
Dogged
Unyielding
Staunch
Self-respecting
Sanguine
Unbending
Emphatic
Pushing
Come on strong
Full of beans
Offensive
Obnoxious
Authoritarian
Full of life
Confrontational
Aggressive
Cheeky
Militant
Up in arms
Of fixed views
Stubborn
Out and out
Point blank
Unadulterated
Play for keeps

Antonyms of assertive include:

Aw shucks
Low pressure
Coy
Humble
Reserved
Unaspiring
Unassertive
Ambitionless
Withdrawn
Like a fish out of water
Doubting
Declining
Faint-hearted
Easily embarrassed
Chaste
Stiff
Artificial
Self-critical
Self-doubting
Relenting
Tolerant
Trivial
Self reproving
Weak
Farming
Non-resisting
Helpless
Pliable
Not positive
Laidback

How Can You Use Assertive in a Sentence?

Many people think being assertive is synonymous with being rude, but the truth is that it’s a core communication skill.

Assertiveness can help you effectively express yourself and stand up for your personal point of view. What’s more, being assertive can help you do this while respecting the beliefs and rights of others. With this in mind, let’s put our newfound knowledge to the test and practice using our word of the day in a sentence.

Need some help? Check out our example sentences listed below to help get you going:

“Christy has always been very direct and assertive in all of her speeches. As such, I feel she has been the best candidate hands-down.”

“Despite being stuck in a difficult situation, I remained assertive in my approach.”

“How many times must we repeat ourselves? Just be assertive and ask for help. We are all here to guide you and assist along the way.”

“Assertive people are usually outspoken and respected by others.”

“Contrary to what you may think, I did not teach him to pick a fight; I taught him to be assertive and to stand up against bullies.”

“Some people feel having an assertive behavior is rude, but I think otherwise.”

“When traveling outside of the country, it’s important to be assertive when asking your tour guide questions about the landscape to prevent getting lost.”

“Cindy’s behavior wasn’t just assertive, but mean and unappreciated.”

“To get what you want in life, many people say an assertive communication style is key.”

“I appreciate a teacher who is assertive and direct rather than someone who likes to beat around the bush.”

“Unfortunately, some folks aren’t assertive enough to ask for help when they need it most.”

What Are Translations of Assertive?

Wondering how to say assertive in a different language? Not to worry — we’ve got you covered! Here are some of the most common translations of our word of the day:

American English — assertive
Afrikaans — Self Geldende
Brazilian Portuguese — assertivo
Czech — asertivní
Danish — Selvhævdende
Chinese — 坚定自信的
Bulgarian — настоятелен
Arabic — حزما
Norwegian — påståelig
Russian — напористый
Finnish — itsevarma
Italian — che sa imporsi
Japanese — 自己主張の強い
Korean — 자기주장을 뚜렷이 내세우는
European Portuguese — assertivo
Spanish — enérgico
Greek — βεβαιωτικός
Polish — twierdzący
Croatian — deklarativan
Thai — ที่ยืนยันอย่างมั่นใจ
Chinese (simplified) — 自信
European Spanish — enérgico
French — assuré
British English — assertive
German — selbstbewusst, durchsetzungsfähig

Recap

In short, you want to use the word assertive when describing a person who is forceful in their actions, yet self-confident enough to make bold and aggressive statements.

While the English language may have many words to describe getting what you want, if you are assertive, you’re less insistent, demanding, or pushy than most other commonly-used terms.

Sources:

Assertive | Definition In The | Cambridge English Dictionary

Assertive Synonyms | Collins English Thesaurus

28 Synonyms & Antonyms For Assertive | Thesaurus.Com

Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.