Definition of claimnext
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claim

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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
The ring appears to have been further altered since then, with some eagle-eyed royal watchers even claiming that the center stone is now an emerald cut instead of a cushion cut. Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 6 July 2026 It has not been confirmed who attacked the unidentified vessel, as no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
Noun
The suit makes three claims against the organization (defamation, tortious interference and injurious falsehood) and asks a judge to award Barth and his firm more than $10 million in damages. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026 Mind-numbing insurance paperwork to get your health insurer to pay a claim. Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 7 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
  • The parents, represented by the law firm Rosen Saba, demand a jury trial, exemplary and punitive damages and civil and statutory penalties.
    Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 9 July 2026
  • With inflation squeezing their margins and rideshare platforms demanding a large share of their earnings, a driver’s split-second decision to accept a fare is a high-stakes calculation of business survival.
    Christopher S. Tang, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • That decision eliminated the creative accounting that has destroyed countless songwriting partnerships.
    Datwon Thomas, VIBE.com, 9 July 2026
  • The leaf-hopping insect destroyed more than 1,000 acres of grapevines in Northern California from 1994 to 2008, causing $30 million in damage, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
    Lizzie Kane July 9, Sacbee.com, 9 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
  • The sheen is light as a feather, blends like a dream, and at SPF 50, is a serious sunscreen in its own right.
    Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • On the surface, the Supreme Court’s June 30 opinion upholding state laws barring transgender girls from women’s and girl’s sports teams looks like a victory for women’s rights.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • OpenAI has reportedly floated an offer to give the federal government a 5 percent ownership stake in the company.
    James Broughel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • The Coast Guard emphasized the high-stakes rescue serves as a powerful reminder of why its crews train constantly and remain ready to respond at any hour of the day or night.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 3 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 12 Jul. 2026.

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