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 When the players went for a walk around the pitch with their medals around their necks, Tuchel insisted that Steele go with them. — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 19 July 2026 Odysseus insisted on hearing their song and was tied to the mast. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026 Despite the mounting danger, the Army Corps of Engineers insisted towns in the Kansas City area would be safe. — Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026 Many insisted that heavy armored vehicles could never conquer the hilly terrains in which horses thrived. — Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026 In their article, Selvin and Anderson insisted that the session was not partisan in nature. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026 Gill also reiterated that HSA had attempted to pay for utility services after taking over the hospitals but said the city insisted the company first pay Steward’s outstanding balances. — Verónica Egui Brito july 16, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026 Most donors insisted in their foundations’ charter that their charitable institutions should exist for eternity. — Thomas Adam, The Conversation, 16 July 2026 However, Iran has insisted its theocracy is unified after the war under the country’s new supreme leader. — Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for insisted

Verb

Iran state media claimed its forces had targeted US forces and facilities across Bahrain and Kuwait.

— Monica Haider, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
The 1951 Flood claimed lives, destroyed homes and businesses, and scattered one of Kansas City’s largest Hispanic communities.

— Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026

Definition of claimed

Verb

Livermore resident Kiersten Skov recently alleged that Haubert’s top aide, Shawn Wilson, offered to direct a charitable donation to a nonprofit of her choice using the county’s discretionary funds.

— Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 13 July 2026
In a lawsuit filed in April, Paramount subscribers alleged that the acquisition will substantially reduce competition in streaming, news and theatrical distribution.

— Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 13 July 2026

Definition of alleged

Verb

The palace asserted that there would be no photos released and no details of what was discussed.

— Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
In a Fox News op-ed published Monday, the hard-line conservative asserted that the upper chamber takes too many recesses and has too short of a workweek.

— Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 13 July 2026

Definition of asserted

Verb

Lopez cited confidentiality concerns and contended that the DA office’s pursuit of Cybergenetics could be a tactic to glean insight from the defense.

— Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 15 July 2026
Some reports, meanwhile, have even contended that AI has had no substantive impact on jobs so far.

— Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 15 July 2026

Definition of contended

Verb

Iran’s new energy weapon Following the start of US- and Israeli-led attacks on February 28, Iran almost immediately declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, creating the largest oil supply shock in history.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue declared Valderrama Murillo dead at the scene.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026

Definition of declared

Verb

Ukraine has maintained its strikes against Russian energy infrastructure with another attack early Sunday on the export hub that brings oil from Kazakhstan to the Black Sea.

— Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
The Office of the State Auditor maintained that its interest in a Midland site was based on expanding geographic access to early voting, not dictating the county’s final plan.

— Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026

Definition of maintained

Verb

Last year during Operation Charlotte’s Web, people protested multiple times throughout the operation, including the prominent November 21 protest at Manolo’s Bakery on Central Avenue.

— Zaire Breedlove, Charlotte Observer, 17 July 2026
That America that didn’t want to know, that almost protested too much, that genuinely hated it.

— Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Definition of protested

Verb

In a statement released Friday, the NFL stated that an investigation concluded that Gold provided confidential information about the Cardinals’ 2026 NFL draft selections before they were publicly announced.

— Doug Haller, New York Times, 20 July 2026
The death comes a day after the Pentagon announced the fatalities of two service members in Jordan.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 July 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 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of insisted

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