assert

verb

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as·sert | \ ə-ˈsərt

, a- \

asserted; asserting; asserts

Definition of assert

transitive verb

1a : to state or declare positively and often forcefully or aggressively The suspect continued to assert his innocence.

b : to compel or demand acceptance or recognition of (something, such as one's authority) … the confrontations that inevitably occur [between orangutans] when several males try to assert dominance … — NationalGeographic.com Wallace asserted control early—shutting down both candidates when they tried to talk over one another, and shushing the audience when it reacted too audibly.— Glenn Thrush

2a : to demonstrate the existence of He wished to vindicate himself in some way, to assert his manhood.— James Joyce

b : posit, postulate

assert oneself

1 : to speak or act in a manner that compels recognition especially of one's rights … she wants him to learn to assert himself with people in positions of authority.— Malcolm Gladwell … a long-suffering Irish community asserted itself by putting its own politicians in power.— Ellis Cose

2 : to become more strongly apparent : to become clearly seen, known, or experienced Unbidden, a glint asserts itself in Ms. Brown's eyes …— Joanne Kaufman … a passion that through its long suppression was now asserting itself with volcanic necessity.— Zadie Smith

Other Words from assert Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing assert Learn More About assert

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

synonyms see in addition maintain

Examples of assert in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web For years Washington has portrayed China as seeking to reshape the international order to better assert its national interests and to build enough military strength to eventually supplant the United States as the dominant power in Asia. — Robert Burns, ajc, 20 Apr. 2022 Russia had three goals going into this: to subjugate Ukraine to its will, to deny its sovereignty and its independence, to assert Russian power, and to divide the West, divide the alliance. — NBC News, 3 Apr. 2022 An entity, such as a money manager, can assert a trade secret claim, and the public office cannot release the trade secret unless the entity consents. — cleveland, 6 Mar. 2022 After the break-up of the Soviet Union, Ukraine several times attempted to assert and defend its westward course, including in 2004 and in 2014, both times to great resistance on the part of the Kremlin. — Jan Smoleński, The New Republic, 4 Mar. 2022 Maybe Kentucky’s big man must assert himself more and maintain closer proximity to the basket if the Wildcats are to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. — Tim Sullivan, The Courier-Journal, 2 Mar. 2022 Cryptocurrency lobbyists have urged the Senate Agriculture Committee, which oversees the CFTC, to assert its jurisdiction over their industry and avoid ceding regulatory turf to the SEC. — Paul Kiernan, WSJ, 9 Feb. 2022 Relatively often, Kerr must encourage Wiggins to assert himself and create shots off the dribble. — Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Jan. 2022 Beatrice perished at Auschwitz, and Irene — who survived the war hiding in Paris — was able to assert a claim and gain possession of the painting in 1946. — Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'assert.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.