assertive

/əˈsɝtɪv/

Group 17Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(adjective)
Having or showing a confident and forceful personality
GRE

Example in Context

The newly appointed director adopted a more assertive stance in negotiations, signaling that the era of easy concessions was over.

Synonyms

confidentbolddirect

Etymology

Joining together with confidence, showing a strong personality.

  • ad- (Latin) — to
  • sertus (Latin) — to join

Memory Aid

🎾Sounds like “a serve-tive

Imagine a tennis player shouting 'A SERVE-TIVE!' every time they smash the ball with confidence!

Visual Association

💪A person standing tall with arms crossed, radiating confidence in a bustling crowd.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “assertive” mean on the GRE?

assertive (adjective) means “Having or showing a confident and forceful personality”. The newly appointed director adopted a more assertive stance in negotiations, signaling that the era of easy concessions was over.

How to remember “assertive” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “assertive” sounds like “a serve-tive”. Imagine a tennis player shouting 'A SERVE-TIVE!' every time they smash the ball with confidence!

What are synonyms for “assertive”?

Common synonyms: confident, bold, direct.