assert

[ uh-surt ]
See synonyms for: assertassertedassertingasserts on Thesaurus.com

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.

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

  1. to state as having existence; affirm; postulate: to assert a first cause as necessary.

Idioms about assert

  1. assert oneself, to insist on one's rights, declare one's views forcefully, etc.: The candidate finally asserted himself about property taxes.

Origin of assert

1
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” (cf. series)

synonym study For assert

1. See declare. 2. See maintain.

Other words for assert

Opposites for assert

Other words from assert

  • 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)

Words Nearby assert

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use assert in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for assert

assert

/ (əˈsɜːt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to insist upon (rights, claims, etc)

  2. (may take a clause as object) to state to be true; declare categorically

  1. to put (oneself) forward in an insistent manner

Origin of assert

1
C17: from Latin asserere to join to oneself, from serere to join

Derived forms of assert

  • asserter or assertor, noun
  • assertible, adjective

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