assertive
UK: əˈsɜː.tɪv | US: əˈsɜːr.t̬ɪv
adj. confident and direct in claiming one's rights or putting forward one's views
adj. having a strong or dominant personality
The word "assertive" derives from the Latin assertus, the past participle of asserere ("to claim, affirm"), combining ad- (toward) + serere (to join, attach). The root "assert" entered English in the early 17th century, meaning "to declare boldly." The suffix "-ive" (from Latin -ivus) transforms verbs into adjectives, giving "assertive" its modern sense of "boldly self-assured." The term reflects a logical progression from physical claiming (Latin) to psychological confidence (modern usage).
Her assertive tone made it clear she wouldn’t tolerate unfair treatment.
Managers need to be assertive without being aggressive.
He became more assertive after attending communication workshops.
An assertive approach helped her negotiate a higher salary.
The team praised his assertive leadership during the crisis.