assert
/əˈsəːt
/verb [reporting verb]
1State a fact or belief confidently and forcefully: [with clause]: the company asserts that the cuts will not affect development [with object]: he asserted his innocence...
- These types of beliefs, he asserts, are closely connected to languages and texts.
- Neither does he explicitly assert that our natural beliefs are true.
- I would however assert that the belief in absolute truth requires an attempt to follow it as best as possible.
Synonyms
declare, maintain, contend, argue, state, claim, propound, submit, posit, postulate, adduce, move, advocate, venture, volunteer, aver, proclaim, announce, pronounce, attest, affirm, protest, profess, swear, insist, avow
formal opine
rare asseverate
1.1 [with object] Cause others to recognize (one’s authority or a right) by confident and forceful behaviour: the good librarian is able to assert authority when required...
- The rights were asserted as fundamental entitlements recognized by the international community.
- What would have happened if the Thai authorities had asserted their jurisdiction over the offence here?
- They are conducted in order to assert authority and extend influence.
Synonyms
insist on, stand up for, uphold, defend, contend, establish, press/push for, stress
1.2 (assert oneself) Behave or speak in a confident and forceful manner: it was time to assert himself...
- Please stay the nice person that you are, but learn also to assert yourself and to speak up for yourself.
- Likewise, democracy empowers disaffected minorities to speak out and assert themselves along ethnic, religious, or tribal lines.
- These classes have been a source of great entertainment for the youth of the area and have resulted in many a shy child getting the confidence to assert themselves.
Synonyms
behave confidently, speak confidently, be assertive, put oneself forward, make one's presence felt, exert one's influence, make people sit up and take notice, make people sit up and listen
informal put one's foot down
Derivatives
assertable
/ adjective ...- What the group accepts is correctly assertable or true for the group members.
- Any language that actually is spoken is assertable.
- Jackson came to realise, however, that there are assertable conditionals which one would not continue to believe if one learned the antecedent.
asserter
/ (also assertor) noun ...- The general principle in civil litigation is that the burden of proof lies on the asserter of a claim.
- The true principles of national glory are opened by the grandeur of the minds of these assertors of political freedom.
- But these assertors assert the opposite of this.
Origin
Early 17th century: from Latin asserere 'claim, affirm', from ad- 'to' + serere 'to join'.