INSISTED Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

insisted

verb

past tense of insist

as in claimed

to state as a fact usually forcefully she continued to insist that she was right, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary

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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 insisted The secretary insisted he is focused on leading the War Department. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2026 Some Hindu reform movements that developed under colonialism insisted that Hinduism is monotheistic or monist. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 With Trent Grisham fresh off his worst defensive season to date and recently re-signed on a one-year qualifying offer, Aaron Boone insisted that the two-time Gold Glover could return to form. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026 The ambassador, a 69-year-old Texan billionaire, insisted on installing it, to have a place for the ship owner’s family to hang out, maybe flip an omelet for themselves. — CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 Producers initially didn’t want to show him what the creature looked like, hoping to keep that a secret, but the actor insisted. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026 Clement later successfully extorted one of Roshanki’s friends for $5,000 in drug proceeds, then insisted that Roshanski owed him money for drugs and fraud. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 New manager Pierre Sage insisted the Senegal international’s absence was down to an injury. — Jon MacKenzie, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 This caused a strained relationship with the company after city officials insisted the extra cost should be covered by PCL. — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 21 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for insisted

Verb

The declaration stated that White identified as a transgender woman and claimed eligibility under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement.

— Jackson Thompson , Patricia Babcock McGraw OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Across the archipelago’s more than seven thousand islands, countless sovereign communities once bloomed with distinct languages and traditions, until Spain claimed them all under a single name.

— Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of claimed

Verb

The university asserted that the subpoena would create unnecessary work for the police department, unearth irrelevant documents and waste the time of everyone involved.

— Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 Aug. 2026
Bates declared the platform the Principality of Sealand and asserted its sovereignty as a micronation distinct from Great Britain.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of asserted

Verb

Rosengart said Gomez should be dismissed from the lawsuit and contended the investors should not have sued her.

— Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
That wouldn’t have left time for the psychotic, hallucinatory state to begin and for the voices in Clancy’s head to kick in and tell her to kill the children and carry out the suicide attempt, as the defense team has contended, Sprague said.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of contended

Verb

Set in the 1950s, Juul follows 17-year-old circus acrobat Juul, whose life changes forever after a tragic accident leaves her in a coma and declared brain-dead.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
Reiterating its 2019 call for Kavala’s release, the court declared his life-without-parole conviction null and void and found multiple violations of fundamental rights and judicial independence guarantees.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of declared

Verb

Fabares shared that the cast maintained their close bond after the show ended by setting up regular lunch dates.

— Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Aug. 2026
With Friday's win, the Aces (27-13) maintained their one-game lead for third place in the WNBA playoff race ahead of Indiana (26-14), which beat Connecticut 111-91.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of maintained

Verb

Eaton Fire survivors also protested outside a reception Monday evening that Newsom hosted for legislators at the historic Governor’s Mansion.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026
The term was coined by Wall Street veteran Ed Yardeni in the 1980s, referring to traders who protested huge deficits by selling off bonds to push yields higher.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of protested

Verb

Iceland voted against resuming talks to join the European Union, officials announced Sunday, as concerns over sovereignty trumped arguments for European integration.

— Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 30 Aug. 2026
And Turkey's 25-year gas import contract with Iran expired at the end of July, with no successor long-term deal announced.

— Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of announced

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insist

insisted

insisted (on)

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“Insisted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insisted. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of insisted

verb

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