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
Then the elitist media that claim to be all about transparency and accountability rushed to his defense. Tim Graham, Boston Herald, 3 Aug. 2026 During business class meal service on the international flight, Smyth claims she was served a chicken satay on a wooden skewer. Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
Noun
Fenix denied the claims and, under mounting scrutiny, stood fast. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026 Federal authorities also alleged that one defendant submitted claims for home care while traveling overseas, including on a trip to Miami documented in social media posts shared by the DOJ. Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for claim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for claim
Verb
  • Enterprise legal teams in 2026 routinely insist on data exit covering prompts, embeddings, and fine-tunes.
    Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Russia has relentlessly pounded civilian areas of Ukraine, even though Moscow insists its forces target only military facilities.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Now labor unions in other industries are also demanding more pay.
    Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • With the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, du Plessis views this as a critical, yet temporary, opportunity to transform cricket into a mainstream American sport, stressing that success demands proactive vision.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Cal Fire continues to battle the Gann Fire, which has burned more than 10,000 acres in Calaveras County and destroyed over a dozen structures.
    Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • At the same time, Bernadette makes her potion and turns into a 60-foot monster, destroying Pasadena.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The specifics are needed, as Baldwin’s words bring bracing, embittered context to the film’s lustrous European tour.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The frontier of what needs a human recedes every quarter, and the companies that know exactly where the line sits have a real edge.
    Michael Wee, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The district has swung even further to the right since Perriello briefly represented the region following President Barack Obama’s 2008 election.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, Maryland pushed back again, exercising its right of first refusal to purchase the rights back, leaving the Preakness on the outside looking in.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • His abrupt decision to abandon plans to sell a stake in FIFA’s commercial rights to private equity marks a rare and significant political defeat, exposing the limits of his authority and raising new questions about his future leadership.
    Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The Diplomat has expanded its scope to explore intimate stories of power and manipulation within its high-stakes political world.
    David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 1 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Trump’s assertion Thursday that Palestinian Hamas militants and other armed groups had agreed to disarm had raised hopes of a turning point in the conflict.
    Reuters, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Greg Powers Photography Claiming to have the largest whiskey selection in America was always a dubious assertion.
    Don Tse, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Representatives for Britney, Jamie, and Lynne Spears did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly’s request for comment.
    Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Aug. 2026
  • This data empowers stronger salary negotiations, enabling employees to support their requests with market evidence and demonstrated impact.
    Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Claim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/claim. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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