passive-aggressive

adjective

pas·​sive-ag·​gres·​sive ˈpa-siv-ə-ˈgre-siv 

: being, marked by, or displaying behavior characterized by the expression of negative feelings, resentment, and aggression in an unassertive passive way (as through procrastination and stubbornness)

It is passive-aggressive behavior, the donning of a mask of amiability that conceals raw antagonism toward one's competitors, even one's friends.

—Hilary De Vries

A passive-aggressive manager eschews open hostilities, in part because he feels distinctly uncomfortable with them.

—Walter Kiechel III

passive-aggressive noun

Examples of passive-aggressive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Joy and company must make room for a new set of emotions, led by Anxiety, an orange-toned bundle of nerves who talks a mile a minute, sports a passive-aggressive grimace of a smile, and offers ten solutions for every problem; even her hair seems to be multitasking. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 17 June 2024

Such one-liners can’t compare to the memorable quips of a Tyrion Lannister or an Olenna Tyrell, and make even the usually entertaining Small Council meetings among passive-aggressive royal advisers feel perfunctory. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 16 June 2024

The mother, Ellen (Kyra Sedgwick), is a micromanaging, passive-aggressive control freak. —Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 June 2024

Sometimes, the stress is unavoidable: Your three-year-old niece might scream for two hours straight or your sister-in-law might say something passive-aggressive about your parenting style. —Julia Ries, SELF, 10 June 2024

Is this the same woman who has a problem with Priscila but won’t say it to her face and also asks everyone a passive-aggressive question? —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2024

For de Meo, who previously worked for Volkswagen Group as president of SEAT, the failure of the talks inspired a passive-aggressive slight at his German competitors. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 23 May 2024

The language requires a kind of politeness that, translated literally, sounds subservient, even passive-aggressive. —Madeleine Schwartz Soneela Nankani Tanya Pérez Brian St. Pierre, New York Times, 14 May 2024

Their proclivity for harmony and non-confrontational nature sometimes lead to passive-aggressive behavior, while their tendency to be overly accommodating may also result in indecisiveness. —Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

passive-aggressive

1 of 2 adjective

: being, marked by, or displaying behavior characterized by expression of negative feelings, resentment, and aggression in an unassertive way (as through procrastination, stubbornness, and unwillingness to communicate)

a passive-aggressive personality

passive-aggressively adverb

passive-aggressive

2 of 2 noun

: a passive-aggressive individual