passive aggression

ˈpæsɪv əˈɡrɛʃən

Definition

Definition of passive aggression - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

psychology

TECH.

indirect resistance to demands of others

TECH.

Her passive aggression was evident when she agreed but never followed through.

subtle negativity

TECH.

expression of negative feelings subtly

TECH.

His passive aggression showed through sarcastic comments.

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Expressions with passive

passive smoker

non-smoker breathing smoke from people smoking nearby

A passive smoker can be harmed by others smoking nearby.

passive smoking

involuntary inhalation of smoke from nearby smokers

Passive smoking can harm your health.

passive recipients

individuals who accept without resistance

The passive recipients of the decision did not voice any objections.

passive obedience

unquestioning obedience to authority or rules

The soldiers were trained in passive obedience.

passive resistance

nonviolent protest against authority or injustice

The activists used passive resistance to oppose the new law.

passive-aggressive

adj.

acting indirectly to show anger or resist others

He was passive-aggressive and ignored her requests.

Expressions with aggression

aggression breeds aggression

hostile behavior leads to more hostility

In conflicts, aggression breeds aggression, escalating the situation.

war of aggression

military conflict started without self-defense justification

The tribunal condemned the war of aggression as illegal.

sexual aggression

coercive or forceful behavior aimed at unwanted sexual contact or control

The law provides strict penalties for sexual aggression and harassment.

Examples of passive aggression in a sentence

Passive aggression can be hard to deal with in the workplace.
Her passive aggression was evident in her silence.
Passive aggression can damage relationships over time.

View all translations of passive aggression

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.

French:agressivité passive, ...
German:passive Aggression, indirekte Negativität, ...
Italian:aggressività passiva, ...
Spanish:agresión pasiva, ...
Portuguese:agressividade passiva, ...
Chinese:消极抵抗, 隐性负面情绪, ...
Japanese:受動的攻撃, 間接的な攻撃, ...
Arabic:عدوان سلبي, عُدْوانِيَّة سِلْبِيَّة, ...
Hebrew:תּוֹקְפָנוּת פַּסִיבִית, אַגְרֶסִיבִיּוּת פַּסִּיבִית, ...
Russian:пассивная агрессия, скрытая агрессия, ...
Ukrainian:пасивна агресія, ...
Hindi:निष्क्रिय आक्रामकता, परोक्ष आक्रोश, ...
Bengali:পরোক্ষ প্রতিরোধ, পরোক্ষ আক্রমণাত্মকতা, ...
Catalan:agressivitat passiva, hostilitat passiva, ...
Czech:pasivní agrese, ...
Danish:passiv aggression, passiv-aggressivitet, ...
Dutch:passieve agressie, subtiele negativiteit, ...
Greek:παθητική επιθετικότητα, έμμεση επιθετικότητα, ...
Hungarian:passzív agresszió, burkolt agresszió, ...
Khmer:អាកប្បកិរិយាប្រឆាំងដោយប្រយោល, ការបង្ហាញអារម្មណ៍អវិជ្ជមានដោយប្រយោល, ...
Korean:수동적 공격성, 미묘한 부정적 감정 표현, ...
Persian:پرخاشگری منفعلانه, رفتار منفعلانه پرخاشگرانه, ...
Polish:pasywna agresja, wyrażanie negatywnych uczuć subtelnie, ...
Portuguese (BR):agressividade passiva, ...
Romanian:agresiune pasivă, negativitate subtilă, ...
Swedish:passiv aggression, ...
Thai:การแสดงความก้าวร้าวทางอ้อม, ความก้าวร้าวเชิงรับ, ...
Turkish:pasif agresyon, ...
Vietnamese:gây hấn thụ động, cách thể hiện sự bực tức hay thù địch một cách gián tiếp, ...

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Definition of passive aggression - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

Expressions with passive

Expressions with aggression

Terms related to passive aggression

Examples of passive aggression in a sentence

View all translations of passive aggression

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

Get more than a simple definition

Go from understanding to mastery