assert

verb

as·​sert ə-ˈsərt 

a-

asserted; asserting; asserts

transitive verb

1

a

: 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

2

a

: to demonstrate the existence of

He wished to vindicate himself in some way, to assert his manhood.

—James Joyce

b

: posit, postulate

assertible

ə-ˈsər-tə-bəl 

a-

adjective

an assertible defense

Phrases

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

Synonyms

• declare
• affirm
• proclaim
• profess

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

In retrospect, both fans and Grenier himself have asserted that Nate may be the actual villain of The Devil Wears Prada, and not the titular devil herself. —Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 1 July 2025

The athleisure label also asserted that Costco is known to use manufacturers of popular brands’ products for its own Kirkland private label. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 1 July 2025

Russell asserted himself as the team leader at Mercedes this season, extracting maximum performance from the W16 and delivering impressive results. —Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

The two argue in the piece that a succession of credit downgrades imposed on the utilities are not the result of bad regulatory decisions, as the utilities and Wall Street ratings agencies were then asserting. —Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing assert

• assert itself

Rhymes for assert

• alert
• avert
• dessert
• divert
• evert
• exert
• inert
• insert
• invert
• nightshirt
• overt
• revert

Kids Definition

assert

verb

as·​sert ə-ˈsərt 

a-

1

: to state clearly and strongly

2

: to make others aware of

assert your rights

Legal Definition

assert

transitive verb

as·​sert ə-ˈsərt 

: to present and demand recognition of

assert a claim

assertion

ə-ˈsər-shən 

noun