assert

verb

Save Word

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 Learn More about assert

Keep scrolling for more

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 The standoff has turned H&M, one of the world’s largest clothing retailers, into the latest test case for how a big Western brand navigates a Chinese government increasingly willing to assert itself over the actions of foreign companies. — Stu Woo, WSJ, "H&M, Under Attack In China, Sticks to Stance That Angered Beijing," 31 Mar. 2021 After an especially passive performance from Mobley in a January loss at Oregon State, USC coach Andy Enfield challenged the freshman to assert himself. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, "USC’s Evan Mobley out to prove in NCAA tournament he’s ready for NBA spotlight," 19 Mar. 2021 Chinese officials so publicly confronting the U.S. is not just to please its increasingly nationalist and autocratic leader Xi Jinping, but also to assert itself on the world stage. — Conor Finnegan, ABC News, "US, Chinese officials clash in 1st high-level talks under Biden," 18 Mar. 2021 First of all, a podcast allows the client to assert themselves without the mitigating filter of a journalist or a publication’s editorial directive. — Paul Blanchard, Rolling Stone, "How Publicists and PR Professionals Can Navigate the Changing Media Landscape," 18 Mar. 2021 The tremor in my left hand has somehow begun to assert itself in my right hand as well, hence my typing becomes blighted by too many errors. — Cathleen Schine, The New York Review of Books, "The Struggle and the Scramble," 16 Mar. 2021 That’s where Thompson could really step in and assert himself as the team’s second safety. — Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, "5 Auburn football players with the most to gain, lose during spring practice," 15 Mar. 2021 That allowed Clouden to assert herself in the game, attacking the paint time after time on her way to her third 30-plus point performance of the season. — Stefan Krajisnik, The Indianapolis Star, "Indiana women eliminated from Big Ten tournament, look to learn from gut-check loss," 12 Mar. 2021 By that weekend, as 17 states confirmed cases of COVID-19 and a nursing home near Seattle suffered through a fatal outbreak, a new reality began to assert itself. — USA Today, "© Copyright Gannett 2021," 11 Mar. 2021

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.