asserts; asserted; asserting
1
: to state (something) in a strong and definite way
"Poverty is the city's most serious problem," the authors assert. = The authors assert that poverty is the city's most serious problem.
He asserted that there were spies in the government.
Despite the evidence against him, he has continued to assert his innocence. [=has continued to say that he is innocent]
2
: to demand that other people accept or respect (something)
She asserted her independence from her parents by getting her own apartment.
The boss was reluctant to assert his authority over his employees.
Cite this Entry
“Assert.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/assert. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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