You’re trying to figure out how to say “passive-aggressive” professionally or informally, right?
You want to use different words because you’re afraid the original term is insulting or unprofessional.
Fear not. This article is here to assist you.
We’ll teach you another word for a “passive-aggressive” person.
Passive-Aggressive Synonyms
- Indirectly resistant
- Defiant
- Covertly hostile
- Confrontational
- Antagonistic
- Contentious
- Disguisedly resistant
- Latently combative
- Indirectly rebellious
- Oppositional
- Quietly resentful
- Uncooperative
- Subversively defiant
- Underhandedly confrontational
- Implicitly rebellious
- Passive-resistant
- Belligerent
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “Passive-aggressive” is correct, but it’s often quite insulting to describe someone.
- Use “indirectly resistant” as a formal synonym if you want to avoid accidentally upsetting somebody.
- Try “defiant” for something more informal if that’s more suited to your writing.
Keep reading to learn another way to say “passive-aggressive.” We’ve explained more regarding the best formal and informal alternatives to explain more about how they work.
The final section will also explain whether it’s correct to say “passive-aggressive.” So, you may want to skip ahead if you think this will be beneficial for you to learn.
Indirectly Resistant (Formal)
You can start by using “indirectly resistant” as a professional way to say “passive-aggressive.”
This phrase is formal and sincere. So, it’s an excellent way to call someone out for their passive-aggressive tone lately.
For instance, it could be a respectful way to call out an employee.
If you’re unhappy with their behavior or communication skills, then this phrase might set them straight. It’s always worth including something less offensive if you think it’ll work.
You can also review this sample email to learn a bit more about using it:
Dear Cassie,
You have been indirectly resistant regarding these issues lately.
If there’s anything you’d like to discuss, I wouldn’t mind having a meeting with you.
All the best,
Joe Anderson
You can also use this when describing a coworker in a review. Perhaps your boss has started an investigation into someone, and they’ve asked you for some input.
It pays to be honest. So, you can use something like this to describe someone’s passive-aggressive behavior.
Here’s an example to explain more about this if you still don’t get it:
I find her to be indirectly resistant to most of my ideas. I’m not sure what she’s trying to suggest, though.
Defiant (Informal)
If you want to go for something more informal, you can use “defiant.” It’s another way to say “passive-aggressive” that suggests someone is being deliberately annoying.
Generally, you can use this when commenting on a coworker’s attitude.
It might work best when reaching out to a coworker specifically to let them know you see their passive-aggressive communication style.
Of course, if they’re being defiant for a good reason, you might want to use this to get on their side.
Either way, it’s a more conversational way to describe someone’s attitude.
It’s worth reviewing this email example to learn more about how it works:
Hey Josie,
I can tell you’re being defiant when the boss comes to ask you for help.
I appreciate your commitment, and I hope things start to change soon.
Yours,
Kyle Jennings
You don’t just have to use it in informal emails, though.
You can also use it when texting friends. It could be a good way for you to describe someone’s behavior if you’ve noticed they’ve become more passive-aggressive lately.
Check out this message sample to learn more if you still need help:
Stuart has become more defiant. I’m not sure what happened, but we need to be careful what we say.
Is It Correct to Say “Passive-Aggressive”?
It is correct to say “passive-aggressive.”
However, it is not professional. So, there’s very rarely any need for you to include something like this in a business email.
Incidentally, the term can also be insulting. Therefore, it’s best to avoid using this to describe someone to their face, as you’ll likely upset them.
Still, you can review the following message sample to see when it might work:
I find her to be passive-aggressive. I think she dislikes me, though I’m not sure what I’ve done to offend her.
Notice how we’ve included a hyphen when using the phrase, though.
It’s important that you remember this every time, too. The term requires a hyphen if you’re going to write it correctly.
So, here’s a quick reminder:
- Correct: Passive-aggressive
- Incorrect: Passive aggressive
Don’t leave without bookmarking this page, though! After all, you never know when you might need another synonym for “passive-aggressive” that’ll help you to mix things up.