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

Other Word Forms

• asserter noun
• assertible adjective
• assertor noun
• misassert verb (used with object)
• overassert verb (used with object)
• preassert verb (used with object)
• reassert 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

Manila's coast guard said the incident took place near Thitu Island, part of the Spratly Islands where Beijing has sought to assert its sovereignty claims for years.

Read more on Barron's

Research group Unit 42 said in a note the group had "asserted responsibility for laying siege to customer Salesforce tenants as part of a coordinated effort to steal data and hold it for ransom".

Read more on Barron's

His aspiration was not of the clout-chasing, fame-hungry sort, but a drive to be understood, to have his culture recognized, to break free of stereotype and assert one’s being by being perceived.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Clark is undoubtedly correct in asserting that “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” was shaped by the biases of its author.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He explicitly asserted that he was permitted to “consider acquitted conduct.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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