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
Japanese women are legally entitled to claim around 14 weeks of maternity leave and are typically paid about two-thirds of their wages and a birth bonus, though some government workers receive better terms. Reuters, NBC news, 20 July 2026 The 12 plaintiff states suing to block the merger under the Clayton Act similarly claimed that combining Paramount and WBD would harm competition in Hollywood. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 20 July 2026
Noun
Luverne, which thanks to a local collector claims to have more of the decorative figurines than people, now boasts the world's tallest nutcracker too. ABC News, 21 July 2026 New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s ambitions to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are unlikely to materialize, despite his claims. Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for claim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for claim
Verb
  • Antonetti insisted that taking on salary would not be prohibitive.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Ahead of the visit, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted Tehran was not seeking further mediation with the US.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • Upon hearing this, Emira instantly shuts down, leaves the party, and demands her mic be removed.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 23 July 2026
  • Short-term business results will always demand attention, but an organization's future should be guided by patience, resilience and a clear long-term vision.
    Mark Berookim, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Verb
  • The planters themselves get chipped, scratched, dented and, in one out of every three cases so far, destroyed.
    Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026
  • However, an unconfined plasma column could instantly destroy solid surfaces upon contact.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • Each episode gives Ossoff new material and reinforces the argument Kemp and Dooley made during the runoff that Republicans needed a political newcomer without a long record.
    Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
  • Young striker Jayden Danns needs to be assessed after feeling discomfort in his hamstring last week, while Kaide Gordon and Owen Beck are still undergoing rehab following injuries.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Noun
  • The 2026 tournament has instituted significant ticket price increases, and overall growth in media rights and sponsorship fees may push the tournament’s revenues close to $700 million this year.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • The act grants collective media rights to schools that join, allowing those currently facing Title IX non-compliance claims to remain non-compliant with no oversight of compliance, and the athletes who challenged them without power.
    Katie Uhlaender OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
Noun
  • Epstein currently holds a minority ownership stake in the Boston Red Sox and serves as a senior advisor to Fenway Sports Group.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • Sheikh Hamad used gas revenue to give a set of actors who distrust one another a direct stake in Qatar staying open and useful.
    Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • In an address from the White House tonight, the president sought to reveal proof for his baseless assertions of a 2020 vote marred by fraud.
    Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
  • But many of his claims, which echo his assertions after losing the 2020 election, have been debunked by investigations, audits or court proceedings.
    Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Katrina Shadix, a 58-year-old anti-bear-hunt activist in the Orlando area, found out through a public-records request that the FWC accessed her DAVID information 17 times between 2023 and 2025.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
  • One of the tenant union’s requests was for the city to use the health department’s authority to make emergency repairs to the buildings and refrain from condemning the property.
    Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Claim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/claim. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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