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 In 2017, several House Democrats challenged Trump’s win but Biden, who presided at the time as the vice president, swiftly dismissed them to assert Trump’s victory. — Lisa Mascaro And, BostonGlobe.com, "Collins, other Republicans condemn GOP ‘scheme’ to undo election for Trump," 3 Jan. 2021 In 2017, several House Democrats challenged Trump’s win but Biden, who presided at the time as the vice president, swiftly dismissed them to assert Trump’s victory. — Author: Lisa Mascaro And Mary Clare Jalonick, Anchorage Daily News, "Republicans condemn GOP ‘scheme’ to undo election for Trump," 3 Jan. 2021 China’s own experiment with economic liberalization began in 1981, when Premier Deng Xiaoping began to decentralize and privatize economic activity while continuing to assert the ultimate authority of the CCP. — Michael Hochberg, National Review, "The Bill Is Coming Due for China’s ‘Capitalist’ Experiment," 1 Jan. 2021 Human-rights groups are inclined to assert that there’s a moral right to migrate inherent in all persons, accompanied by a right to be resettled. — Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, "‘The Next Great Migration’ Review: A World in Motion," 1 Jan. 2021 The report is at the heart of conspiracies furthered by President Donald Trump and others that incorrectly assert there was widespread election fraud in November. — Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, "AG: Attorney in Antrim County case should reveal names of elections review team," 29 Dec. 2020 And the issue is rising at a moment when Britain is trying to assert its new role on the global stage as a power outside of the European Union. — Elian Peltier, New York Times, "U.K. Says It Can’t Guarantee Assistance for Citizen Held in Iran," 29 Dec. 2020 Besides griping to the media or on internal message boards (which themselves are increasingly policed), the company’s employees have failed to assert their collective power. — Jacob Silverman, The New Republic, "Workers of the Facebook, Unite!," 29 Dec. 2020 All of these exceptions are questions of specific fact, and courts are very circumspect when a landlord attempts to assert that tenants' activities rise to the level required by the order. — Kelly Klein, Star Tribune, "With college virtual, are students stuck with lease?," 11 Dec. 2020

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.