assert

as·sert

transitive verb \ə-ˈsərt, a-\

Definition of ASSERT

1

: to state or declare positively and often forcefully or aggressively

2

a : to demonstrate the existence of <assert his manhood — James Joyce>

b : posit, postulate

— assert oneself

: to speak or act in a manner that compels recognition especially of one's rights

Examples of ASSERT

1. He asserted that there were spies in the government.
2. She asserted her independence from her parents by getting her own apartment.
3. The boss was reluctant to assert his authority over his employees.

Origin of ASSERT

Latin assertus, past participle of asserere, from ad- + serere to join — more at series

First Known Use: circa 1604

Related to ASSERT

Synonyms

affirm, aver, avouch, avow, declare, guarantee, lay down, profess

Antonyms

deny, gainsay

Related Words

advance, advertise, boost, plug, promote, publicize; announce, blaze, call, proclaim, pronounce, say; accent, accentuate, emphasize, stress, underline, underscore; advocate, champion, defend, espouse, support, uphold; assure, convince, persuade; explain, justify, rationalize; reaffirm, reassert

Near Antonyms

minimize, understate; disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook

Synonym Discussion of ASSERT

assert, declare, affirm, protest, avow mean to state positively usually in anticipation of denial or objection. assert implies stating confidently without need for proof or regard for evidence <asserted that modern music is just noise>. declare stresses open or public statement <declared her support for the candidate>. affirm implies conviction based on evidence, experience, or faith <affirmed the existence of an afterlife>. protest emphasizes affirming in the face of denial or doubt <protested that he really had been misquoted>. avow stresses frank declaration and acknowledgment of personal responsibility for what is declared <avowed that all investors would be repaid in full>.

Rhymes with ASSERT

advert, alert, avert, bellwort, birthwort, Blackshirt, brownshirt, bush shirt, camp shirt, colewort, concert, convert, covert, desert, dessert, dissert, divert, dress shirt, evert, exert, expert, exsert, figwort, fleawort, glasswort, hair shirt, Hastert, hornwort, inert, insert, invert, lousewort, lungwort, madwort, milkwort, mugwort, nightshirt, outskirt, overt, pay dirt, pervert, pilewort, ragwort, redshirt, revert, ribwort, saltwort, sandwort, Schubert, seagirt, sea squirt, soapwort, spearwort, spleenwort, stitchwort, stonewort, stuffed shirt, subvert, sweatshirt, toothwort, T-shirt, ungirt