aggressiva

Aggressiva is the feminine singular form of the Italian adjective aggressivo, meaning “aggressive.” It describes someone or something that shows aggression or a forceful, determined character. Depending on context, aggressiva can denote hostility or assertiveness and is often used for people, animals, actions, or styles that are intense or combative.

Etymology: aggressiva comes from late Latin aggressivus, from aggressus, the past participle of aggredi “to approach, attack,” ultimately from ad- “toward” + gradi “to step.” The word belongs to the family of terms related to aggression and attack.

Usage: In everyday language, aggressiva modifies nouns such as persona (una persona aggressiva), comportamento (un comportamento aggressivo), or stile (uno stile aggressivo). The gender form must agree with the noun: aggressiva for feminine singular, aggressivo for masculine singular. The term can carry negative connotations, implying hostility or violence, but in some contexts it may simply describe a bold or assertive approach, especially in sports, business, or rhetoric.

Nuance and related terms: The corresponding noun aggressività refers to aggression as a trait or tendency. Related terms include aggressore (the aggressor) and aggressività as a broader concept. In contemporary Italian, aggressiva is often contrasted with terms like assertivo, which emphasizes self-assurance without necessarily crossing into hostility.

See also: aggressivo, aggressività, aggressore, aggressività.