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View synonyms for

assert

[ uh-surt ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to state with assurance, confidence, or force; state strongly or positively; affirm; aver:

    He asserted his innocence of the crime.

    Synonyms: , ,

    Antonyms:

  2. to maintain or defend (claims, rights, etc.).

    Synonyms: ,

  3. to state as having existence; affirm; postulate:

    to assert a first cause as necessary.



assert

/ əˈɜː /

verb

  1. to insist upon (rights, claims, etc)
  2. may take a clause as object to state to be true; declare categorically
  3. to put (oneself) forward in an insistent manner
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٱ, noun
  • ˈپ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • ·İ ·tǰ noun
  • ·i· adjective
  • a· verb (used with object)
  • v·· verb (used with object)
  • a· verb (used with object)
  • a· verb (used with object)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of assert1

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin assertus “joined to, defended, claimed,” past participle of asserere “to join to, defend,” from as- as- + serere “to connect” ( series )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of assert1

C17: from Latin asserere to join to oneself, from serere to join
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. assert oneself, to insist on one's rights, declare one's views forcefully, etc.:

    The candidate finally asserted himself about property taxes.

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Synonym Study

See declare. See maintain.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

If another male approaches, the presiding reptile will do “push-ups” to assert dominion over its realm.

From

Colossal asserts that what it’s done is close enough to meet the goal of enhancing biodiversity.

From

Finally, last night Rubio himself unveiled his own restructuring plan which, at this point, seems like an attempt to assert authority that may or may not exist.

From

Supporters of the Trump’s action assert his policy will win in court.

From

He later tweeted that Kris Jenner didn’t hand out the magazines to the kids, as one X account had asserted, but said “they were just in reach like candy.”

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Asserassertation