insistent

[ in-sis-tuhnt ]

adjective

1. earnest or emphatic in dwelling upon, maintaining, or demanding something; persistent; pertinacious.
2. compelling attention or notice:

   an insistent tone.

insistent

/ ɪnˈsɪstənt /

adjective

1. making continual and persistent demands
2. demanding notice or attention; compelling

   the insistent cry of a bird

Derived Forms

• inˈsistently, adverb
• inˈsistence, noun

Other Words From

• in·sistent·ly adverb
• nonin·sistent adjective
• over·in·sistent adjective
• over·in·sistent·ly adverb
• quasi-in·sistent adjective
• quasi-in·sistent·ly adverb
• super·in·sistent adjective
• super·in·sistent·ly adverb
• unin·sistent adjective
• unin·sistent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of insistent¹

1615–25; < Latin insistent- (stem of in-sistēns ), present participle of insistere. See insist, -ent

Example Sentences

But the jolly tone gives way to something fiercer and more appropriately epic: a galloping rhythm on the drums, insistent bass and scorching guitar notes.

From New York Times

He also once had to pretend to be the British singer when he met his friend's four-year-old son, who was "so insistent that I was really him".

From BBC

Nik describes this possibility as a "very subtle but very insistent background noise".

From BBC

She was insistent, though, that there had to be a "real plan in place".

From BBC

The insistent buzzing of the drone competes with his voice.

From BBC

Related Words

• assertive
• dire
• emphatic
• forceful
• incessant
• persistent
• pressing
• resolute
• unrelenting
• urgent