nonassertive

adjective

non·​as·​ser·​tive ˌnän-ə-ˈsər-tiv How to pronounce nonassertive (audio)
-a-
: not assertive: such as
a
: not disposed to or characterized by bold or confident statements and behavior
a quiet, nonassertive person/personality
b
: having a subtle rather than a strong flavor or aroma
Fresh pasta is delicate and absorbs sauce more readily than dried, so it works best with a light, nonassertive sauce.Jane Brody
nonassertively adverb
nonassertiveness noun

Examples of nonassertive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
People who knew Zhang described him to police as a nonassertive man who avoided conflict and typically acquiesced to his wife. Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2021 Those who saw an assertive ad chose to allocate $7 of the gift card to the brand on average, compared with $14 for those who saw a nonassertive ad. Alina Dizik, WSJ, 16 May 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonassertive was in 1869

Dictionary Entries Near nonassertive

Cite this Entry

“Nonassertive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonassertive. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on nonassertive

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!