Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

assert

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of assert

1 to state clearly and strongly
  • a superpatriot who is never afraid to assert her allegiance to flag and country
Synonyms of assert

affirm, aver, avouch, avow, declare, guarantee, lay down, profess
Words Related to assert

advance, advertise, boost, plug, promote, publicize

announce, blaze, call, proclaim, pronounce, say

accent, accentuate, emphasize, stress, underline, underscore

advocate, champion, defend, espouse, support, uphold

assure, convince, persuade

explain, justify, rationalize

reaffirm, reassert
Near Antonyms of assert

minimize, understate

disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook
2 to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration
  • asserted that a new roof would be necessary if the school was to remain open
Synonyms of assert

argue, contend, maintain, plead, reason
Words Related to assert

adduce, cite, mention

claim, insist

affirm, aver, avouch, avow

advance, give, offer, propose, submit

advise, counsel, recommend, suggest, urge

convince, persuade

advocate, champion, defend, enforce, espouse, support

explain, justify, rationalize

consider, debate, discuss

confute, counter, disprove, rebut, refute
3 to state as a fact usually forcefully
  • He vigorously asserted that what passes for art these days is absolute rubbish.
Synonyms of assert

affirm, allege, aver, avouch, avow, claim, contend, declare, insist, maintain, profess, protest, purport, warrant
Words Related to assert

announce, broadcast, proclaim

argue, rationalize, reason

confirm, justify, vindicate

defend, persevere, support, uphold

reaffirm, reassert
Phrases Synonymous with assert

put forth
Near Antonyms of assert

abandon

disavow, disclaim, disown, negate, negative, reject, repudiate

challenge, dispute, question

confute, disprove, rebut, refute

contradict, counter
Antonyms of assert

deny, gainsay

Synonym Discussion of 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

Learn More about assert

  1. See words that rhyme with assert Dictionary: Definition of assert Spanish Central: Translation of assert Nglish: Translation of assert for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of assert for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up assert? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games