Definition of claimnext
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claim

2 of 2

noun

1
as in right
an entitlement to something I'm announcing my claim to that last slice of pizza

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in stake
a legal right to participation in the advantages, profits, and responsibility of something a shareholder has a claim in the business

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in request
something that someone insists upon having young children make great claims on their parents' time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb claim contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of claim are demand, exact, and require. While all these words mean "to ask or call for something as due or as necessary," claim implies a demand for the delivery or concession of something due as one's own or one's right.

claimed the right to manage his own affairs

In what contexts can demand take the place of claim?

The synonyms demand and claim are sometimes interchangeable, but demand implies peremptoriness and insistence and often the right to make requests that are to be regarded as commands.

demanded payment of the debt

When would exact be a good substitute for claim?

The words exact and claim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exact implies not only demanding but getting what one demands.

exacts absolute loyalty

Where would require be a reasonable alternative to claim?

In some situations, the words require and claim are roughly equivalent. However, require suggests the imperativeness that arises from inner necessity, compulsion of law or regulation, or the exigencies of the situation.

the patient requires constant attention

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of claim
Verb
Separately, the states claim that the deal will undermine the market for the licensing of basic cable TV channels. Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 13 July 2026 Some business owners appear to be on the same page, claiming their workers are earning more with additional people and resources. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 13 July 2026
Noun
However, the agency has not provided any evidence to back the claims. Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 14 July 2026 OpenAI has pushed back, denying the claims, but the lawsuit could be a major test of how far AI companies can go in hiring top talent from tech rivals, as my Fortune colleague notes in this colorful piece. Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for claim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for claim
Verb
  • Iran insists on retaining control over shipping through the waterway and says vessels should instead use routes through its own territorial waters.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Indeed, Brocka insists on escapist fantasies in a world that otherwise offers no escape, which, in my view, is more hopeful than bleak — and, in turn, allows this kind of gritty sensuality to persist in his ever-enduring, luminous cinema.
    Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • That Messi was one, and the one who decided it late, was demanded of the moment —Messi delivering as usual.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
  • Analysts said that recent volatility and valuation changes demand greater selectivity.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • But there have been no exact numbers of how many missiles and drones Iran had when the war began or how many have since been used or destroyed.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Severe droughts and searing heat across vast swathes of southern Europe destroyed large parts of the olive oil harvest, culminating in a dizzying price rally that shocked industry veterans and consumers alike.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • If Washington intends to withdraw forces, assets or capabilities, allies need a roadmap and a timeline.
    Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • Schjelderup, who assisted the second goal, too, jumped onto Haaland’s back again and pointed down at him, as if anyone in MetLife Stadium that day, or anyone watching at home, needed to know where to direct their attention.
    Tim Rohan, NBC news, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Rather than questioning Tuchel’s right to criticise, Kane took his manager’s side.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • Local immigrant rights groups are hoping Costa Mesa cancels its contract with Flock, a security hardware company known for its automatic license plate readers.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • Sportico reported at the time that Khosla bought the biggest stake, though the specifics were not available.
    Scott Soshnick, Variety, 12 July 2026
  • But Oman hasn’t been publicly leading mediation efforts, so why are high-stakes meetings taking place in Muscat?
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Noun
  • Ukraine rejects that assertion and Zelenskyy urged Putin last month to hold a one-on-one meeting with him, but the Kremlin leader refused.
    Reuters, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • Four fisher people from Indonesia’s Pari Island filed a legal complaint in 2023 against the Swiss construction company Holcim, which refutes their assertion that its climate change-causing emissions threaten their homes and livelihoods.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Trump weighs a return to war with Iran Sit’s attorney, Kate Corrigan, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon.
    Phil Helsel, NBC news, 11 July 2026
  • Plans for a data center in Henderson County are apparently on hold for now after the developer did not provide justification for a request to pull a maximum of nearly 2 billion gallons of water a year from Cedar Creek Lake.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Claim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/claim. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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