insistent

adjective

in·​sis·​tent in-ˈsi-stənt 

1

: disposed to insist : persistent

2

: compelling attention

the insistent pounding of the waves

insistently adverb

Synonyms

• dogged
• patient
• persevering
• persistent
• pertinacious
• tenacious

Examples of insistent in a Sentence

We listened to the insistent crashing of waves on the beach.

Margaret Sanger is remembered as an insistent crusader for birth control.

Recent Examples on the Web

And so, what was once a lazy, crazy, charming afternoon daydream of a movie is now a frantic, insistent, often unfunny sci-fi comedy. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 May 2025

Wallen is still insistent about how those roots remain central to his music. —Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 21 May 2025

As the colleague grew insistent—citing her kids' potential disappointment—the situation escalated. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025

Many of these spots are decades in the making, vestiges of another time, insistent on bringing history into the present day; all represent a sense of community that wouldn’t exist without them. —Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin insistent-, insistens, present participle of insistere

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for insistent

• assistant
• consistent
• existent
• persistent
• resistant
• subsistent
• coexistent
• equidistant
• inconsistent
• nonexistent
• preexistent
• distant

Kids Definition

insistent

adjective

in·​sis·​tent in-ˈsis-tənt 

: demanding attention : persistent

insistently adverb