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

Even as her business grows — Elli’s Kosher Kitchen just became the first business to receive kosher certification from the city of Abu Dhabi — Kriel continues to assert her creativity and attention to detail in the kitchen.

From Ozy

It comes just a week after the Ethiopian House of Federation declared the election as “null and void”, asserting that the poll was unconstitutional.

From Quartz

In response to ProPublica’s 2018 reporting, IBM asserted that cases like Miyoshi’s were one-offs and didn’t represent a company practice.

From ProPublica

“Definitely, this is not the death of cities,” Chesky asserts.

From Fortune

Kennedy, thanking supporters, said he called Markey to concede, telling him he’s a “good man” and asserting “you have never heard me say otherwise,” according to the New York Times.

From Washington Blade

As leaders across the world continue to assert, the war is far from won.

From The Daily Beast

“It certainly demonstrates their effort to re-assert themselves in the region and regain their past form,” this official added.

From The Daily Beast

I was forced to bring two male “identity verifiers” to assert who I was, despite the fact that I carried my ID card with me.

From The Daily Beast

Rather than a right to health care or abortion, people assert a right to access those things.

From The Daily Beast

These suits assert, basically, that the child herself was harmed by the very fact of her own birth.

From The Daily Beast

The well-worn aphorism of the Frenchman, “History repeats itself,” was about to assert itself.

From Project Gutenberg

The knocker appeared to hear the response, and to assert that it was quite impossible he could wait so long.

From Project Gutenberg

Quiet and good natured, when necessity arose he never failed to assert his authority.

From Project Gutenberg

It was as if the earlier, loving Lettice tried to assert itself, but was instantly driven back again.

From Project Gutenberg

Never, when advancing an opinion, assert positively that a thing "is so," but give your opinion as an opinion.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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