assert

[ uh-surt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to state with assurance, confidence, or force; state strongly or positively; affirm; aver:

   He asserted his innocence of the crime.

   Synonyms: maintain, avow, asseverate

   Antonyms: deny

2. to maintain or defend (claims, rights, etc.).

   Synonyms: support, uphold

3. to state as having existence; affirm; postulate:

   to assert a first cause as necessary.

assert

/ əˈsɜːt /

verb

1. to insist upon (rights, claims, etc)
2. may take a clause as object to state to be true; declare categorically
3. to put (oneself) forward in an insistent manner

Derived Forms

• asˈserter, noun
• asˈsertible, adjective

Other Words From

• as·serter as·sertor noun
• as·serti·ble adjective
• misas·sert verb (used with object)
• over·as·sert verb (used with object)
• preas·sert verb (used with object)
• reas·sert verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of assert¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin assertus “joined to, defended, claimed,” past participle of asserere “to join to, defend,” from as- as- + serere “to connect” ( series )

Word History and Origins

Origin of assert¹

C17: from Latin asserere to join to oneself, from serere to join

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. assert oneself, to insist on one's rights, declare one's views forcefully, etc.:

   The candidate finally asserted himself about property taxes.

Synonym Study

See declare. See maintain.

Example Sentences

Most of those claiming their written content has been infringed assert chiefly that the databases known to have been fed to some AI models are known to include their books or other writing.

From Los Angeles Times

But while this is a moment of reckoning that we must acknowledge, we should also refuse to give in to despair and continue to assert and rely on our rights and protections as Americans.

From Los Angeles Times

They claim the 2020 election was “fraudulent” and assert that the 2024 election’s use of machines to tally votes is illegal.

From Los Angeles Times

The fact checks did not seem to make much difference to either Trump or his followers’ willingness to assert and believe an obvious lie.

From Slate

Although residents assert that poor infrastructure and low-quality government responses caused unnecessary casualties, a climatologist and co-founder of World Weather Attribution Frederike Otto says that climate change is also a major culprit.

From Salon

Related Words

• affirm
• allege
• argue
• cite
• claim
• contend
• defend
• proclaim
• profess
• say
• stress
• uphold