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My generation of bossy, confident, baby-boom women were something brand new in history. Our energy and assertiveness weren't created by Betty Friedan, unknown before her 1963 book, or by Gloria Steinem, whose political activism, as even the Lifetime profile admitted, did not begin until 1969.
Camille Paglia

Meaning of "assertiveness" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

PRONUNCIATION OF ASSERTIVENESS

assertiveness  [əˈsɜːtɪvnɪs] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF ASSERTIVENESS

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Assertiveness is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES ASSERTIVENESS MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Assertiveness

Assertiveness is the quality of being self-assured and confident without being aggressive. In the field of psychology and psychotherapy, it is a learnable skill and mode of communication. Dorland's Medical Dictionary defines assertiveness as: "a form of behavior characterized by a confident declaration or affirmation of a statement without need of proof; this affirms the person's rights or point of view without either aggressively threatening the rights of another or submissively permitting another to ignore or deny one's rights or point of view". During the second half of the 20th century, assertiveness was increasingly singled out as a behavioral skill taught by many personal development experts, behavior therapists, and cognitive behavioral therapists. Assertiveness is often linked to self-esteem. The term and concept was popularized to the general public by books such as Your Perfect Right: A Guide to Assertive Behavior by Robert E. Alberti, and When I Say No, I Feel Guilty: How To Cope Using the Skills of Systematic Assertiveness Therapy by Manuel J. Smith.

Definition of assertiveness in the English dictionary

The definition of assertiveness in the dictionary is confidence and directness in claiming your rights or putting forward your views. Other definition of assertiveness is a tendency to make assertions or bold demands; aggressiveness.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH ASSERTIVENESS


attentiveness
əˈtɛntɪvnɪs
attractiveness
əˈtræktɪvnɪs
combativeness
ˈkɒmbətɪvnɪs
competitiveness
kəmˈpɛtɪtɪvnɪs
cost-effectiveness
ˌkɒstɪˈfɛktɪvnɪs
destructiveness
dɪˈstrʌktɪvnɪs
distinctiveness
dɪˈstɪŋktɪvnɪs
effectiveness
ɪˈfɛktɪvnɪs
ineffectiveness
ˌɪnɪˈfɛktɪvnɪs
inquisitiveness
ɪnˈkwɪzɪtɪvnɪs
inventiveness
ɪnˈvɛntɪvnɪs
perceptiveness
pəˈseptɪvnɪs
protectiveness
prəˈtɛktɪvnɪs
receptiveness
rɪˈseptɪvnɪs
repetitiveness
rɪˈpetɪtɪvnɪs
representativeness
ˌrɛprɪˈzɛntətɪvnɪs
seductiveness
sɪˈdʌktɪvnɪs
suggestiveness
səˈdʒɛstɪvnɪs
supportiveness
səˈpɔːtɪvnɪs
vindictiveness
vɪnˈdɪktɪvnɪs

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE ASSERTIVENESS

assentiveness
assentor
assert
assertable
assertedly
asserter
assertible
assertion
assertive
assertively
assertiveness training
assertor
assertoric
assertory
assess
assessable
assessable income
assessed income
assessment
assessment arrangements

WORDS THAT END LIKE ASSERTIVENESS

activeness
adhesiveness
aggressiveness
appropriateness
awareness
awesomeness
brand awareness
business
closeness
completeness
cuteness
defensiveness
doneness
hoarseness
likeness
oneness
responsiveness
self-awareness
soreness
uniqueness
whiteness

Synonyms and antonyms of assertiveness in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

SYNONYMS OF «ASSERTIVENESS»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «assertiveness» and belong to the same grammatical category.
synonyms of assertiveness

Translation of «assertiveness» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF ASSERTIVENESS

Find out the translation of assertiveness to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of assertiveness from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «assertiveness» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

自信
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

asertividad
570 millions of speakers

English

assertiveness
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

मुखरता
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

تأكيد الذات
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

напористость
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

assertividade
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

দৃঢ়তাসূচনা
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

assurance
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Ketegasan
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Durchsetzungsvermögen
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

自己主張
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

주장
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Assertiveness
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

sự quả quyết
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

தன்முனைப்பு
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

खंबीरपणा
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

kendine güven
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

assertività
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

asertywność
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

напористість
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

asertivitate
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

αυτοπεποίθηση
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

selfgelding
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

självsäkerhet
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

selvsikkerhet
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of assertiveness

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «ASSERTIVENESS»

The term «assertiveness» is regularly used and occupies the 60.717 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Regularly used
72
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «assertiveness» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of assertiveness
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «assertiveness».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «ASSERTIVENESS» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «assertiveness» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «assertiveness» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about assertiveness

EXAMPLES

5 QUOTES WITH «ASSERTIVENESS»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word assertiveness.
1
Bryan Cranston
I think naturally, if you're an actor, there's a high level of assertiveness that you need to have to survive this business. There's boldness in being assertive, and there's strength and confidence.
2
Shakti Gawain
Assertiveness is not what you do, it's who you are!
3
Justin Guarini
There is a fine line between assertiveness and being relaxed.
4
Camille Paglia
My generation of bossy, confident, baby-boom women were something brand new in history. Our energy and assertiveness weren't created by Betty Friedan, unknown before her 1963 book, or by Gloria Steinem, whose political activism, as even the Lifetime profile admitted, did not begin until 1969.
5
Arlen Specter
If you are going to have to play defense all the time, you cannot have the kind of ingenuity, assertiveness, independence, and intelligence which is what has made our country strong.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «ASSERTIVENESS»

Discover the use of assertiveness in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to assertiveness and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Your Perfect Right: Assertiveness and Equality in Your Life ...
The ninth edition has been completely revised and updated to include new material on assertive expression in email and social networks, what to do when assertiveness doesn't work, anger expression, persistence, treatments for social anxiety ...
Robert E. Alberti, Michael L. Emmons, 2008
2
Develop Your Assertiveness
Packed with examples and exercises, this essential guide covers topics such as: the importance of choice of behaviour; tension control; self awareness and self-esteem; relationships; making and refusing requests; dealing with problem people ...
Sue Bishop, 2013
3
The Assertiveness Workbook: How to Express Your Ideas and ...
This book has been awarded The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Self-Help Seal of Merit — an award bestowed on outstanding self-help books that are consistent with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and that ...
Randy Paterson, 2000
4
Assertiveness
This book "explores the relationship between being able to be truly oneself and assertive and illustrates with personal stories and case studies how individuals, teams and organizations can make a difference and can make it possible for ...
Anni Townend, 2007
5
Speak Up!: Christian Assertiveness
In situations involving confrontation, many Christians either explode and feel guilty or suppress their convictions and become depressed.
‎1985
6
Assertiveness: How To Be Strong In Every Situation
This book is a roadmap to help you navigate your way through those challenging opportunities, hurdles and milestones.
Conrad Potts, Suzanne Potts, 2013
7
Assertiveness: The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook ...
Now in its sixth edition, this workbook, highly regarded by therapists and their clients, remains the go-to source for stress reduction strategies that can be incorporated into even the busiest lives.
Elizabeth Robbins Eshelman, Matthew McKay, Martha Davis, 2008
8
When I Say No, I Feel Guilty
Are you having trouble coping with people? Learn the answers in When I Say No, I Feel Guilty, the best-seller with revolutionary new techniques for getting your own way. From the Paperback edition.
Manuel J. Smith, 2011
9
Assertiveness: How Can I Say What I Mean?
Defines assertiveness, discusses its value, and offers strategies for readers to improve their assertiveness skills.
Kate Havelin, 1999
10
Developing Positive Assertiveness
Make positive assertiveness a productive force in your life.
Sam R. Lloyd, 2002

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «ASSERTIVENESS»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term assertiveness is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Leadership: Be assertive, not aggressive
She said: "Collaboration, empathy and flexibility are all crucial for effective leadership… and an A word, but I would call it assertiveness.". «Media Week, Jul 15»
2
All of Greece partied last night after rejecting austerity
But what's important about making that choice is that it's a statement of assertiveness and some small form of self-determination. (Photo credit: ... «The Verge, Jul 15»
3
NATO Faces Dilemma as it Weighs Montenegro's Bid to Join
But any enlargement by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the face of Russia's current assertiveness would be highly symbolic. «Wall Street Journal, Jul 15»
4
There are no heroes in the Greek crisis that ended the euro
Referendums give voters an artificial sense of empowerment and can formalise a previously vague sense of nationalist assertiveness against a ... «The Independent, Jul 15»
5
Purdue basketball: Transfer guard is grateful, earning respect
But, according to senior guard Rapheal Davis, Hill's “voice” and assertiveness have set him apart since he first arrived on campus in May. «Purdue Exponent, Jul 15»
6
Dallas Author Sarah Hepola on Memoir, Blackout: "It's My Story, but I …
... we were having over the years about men and body image and confidence and creativity and assertiveness and connectedness … The more ... «Dallas Observer, Jul 15»
7
South China Sea serenity
America's response to China's rise — and in particular to its assertiveness in the South China Sea — is a case in point. The United States ... «The Japan Times, Jul 15»
8
Column: Looks can be deceiving
Do you judge people by their looks or accents or assertiveness? Should you? I would caution you not to make definitive decisions about people ... «Fredericksburg.com, Jul 15»
9
'True Detective' Recap: The Buckshot Stops Here
Take the trio that rounds out the core cast: Ani Bezzerides' sexual assertiveness, Frank Semyon's failure to perform at the fertility clinic, and ... «RollingStone.com, Jul 15»
10
How To Deal With Street Harassment
Look your harasser in the eye and denounce their behaviour with a strong, clear voice, showing your assertiveness and strength. Project ... «Youth Ki Awaaz, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Assertiveness [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/assertiveness>. Jun 2026 ».
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