insist
[verb]
Synonyms:
- demand, lay down the law, put one's foot down (informal), require
- assert, aver, claim, maintain, reiterate, repeat, swear, vow

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English Thesaurus: claim, allege, maintain, insist, assert, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

in‧sist S3 W2 /ɪnˈsɪst/ verb [intransitive]
[Word Family: verb: insist; noun: insistence; adverb: insistently; adjective: insistent]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: insistere 'to stand on, continue with determination', from sistere 'to stand']

1. to say firmly and often that something is true, especially when other people think it may not be true
insist (that)
Mike insisted that he was right.
His friends insisted he had no connection with drugs.
insist on
She kept insisting on her innocence.

2. to demand that something should happen:
Stay for supper – I insist!
insist (that)
They insisted that everyone should come to the party.
He insisted I should take a taxi.
insist on
We insist on the highest standards of cleanliness in the hotel.
insist on/upon doing something
He insisted upon checking everything himself.

3. if you insist spoken used when agreeing to do something that you do not really want to do:
‘Why don’t you call them up today?’ ‘Oh, if you insist!’

4. insist on doing something to keep doing something, especially something that is inconvenient or annoying:
She will insist on washing her hair just when I want to have a bath.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

insist
verb
ADV. firmly, strongly | stubbornly He stubbornly insisted on doing it all himself.
absolutely I'm paying for this?no, I absolutely insist.
gently, quietly He quietly but firmly insisted.
always | repeatedly | still She still insists her critics are wrong.
rightly People rightly insist on being treated as individuals.
VERB + INSIST continue to | try to | be entitled to Employers are entitled to insist that employees honour the terms of their agreement.
PREP. on/upon He insists on speaking to you personally

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

insist
verb
BAD: The porter insisted to help us with our baggage.
GOOD: The porter insisted on helping us with our baggage.
GOOD: The porter insisted that he (should) help us with our baggage.

Usage Note:
insist on (doing ) sth : 'He insisted on paying for the meal himself.'
insist that sb (should ) do sth : 'He insisted that he (should) pay for the meal himself.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

claim to say that something is true, even though it has not been proved:
He claims that he didn’t see anything.
She claims to be a descendant of Charles Dickens.
allege to claim that someone did something wrong or illegal, although you do not give any proof:
It is alleged that he murdered his wife.
Patients allege that the two firms failed to warn doctors about the dangers of taking the drugs over a long period.
maintain to repeatedly say that something is true, especially when other people do not believe you:
He continued to maintain his innocence, even after he was sent to prison.
My mother always maintains that I learned to talk at six months.
insist to say very firmly that something is true:
She insists that Tom was there, although he denies it.
Turkey insists that there is more than enough water in the two rivers for all three countries.
assert formal to state that something is true – used especially in formal writing when reporting someone’s opinion:
They assert that children work better on their own.
The Environment Minister asserted that one third of the country’s cities had major pollution problems.
contend formal to claim that something is true, especially when other people disagree with you:
Lawyers contend that his back problems were due to an existing injury, not the accident.
It is possible, as Kennedy contends, that her medical condition is caused by her work.
false
His claims were later found to be false.
unfounded/unsubstantiated (=not based on truth or evidence)
These claims of discrimination are completely unfounded.
extravagant claims (=clearly not true)
Some manufacturers make extravagant claims for their products.
competing claims
the competing claims of the political parties
conflicting claims (=saying that different things are true)
The reports contained conflicting claims of the number of people killed.
make a claim
He made extravagant claims about the benefits of the diet.
deny a claim (=say it is not true)
Government officials denied claims that the country possessed chemical weapons.
dispute/reject a claim (=say it is not true)
The Prime Minister rejected claims of a disagreement within his party.
support a claim
The court found no evidence to support her claim.
back up a claim (=support it)
They challenged him to back up his claims with evidence.
accept a claim
Many scientists were reluctant to accept his claims.
challenge a claim (=say that you do not believe it is true)
Washington continued to challenge the claim that global warming is partly caused by carbon dioxide.
investigate a claim
Detectives are investigating claims that the two officials took bribes.
allegation a statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal, but that has not been proved:
He has strongly denied the allegations of sexual harassment.
assertion formal something that you say or write that you strongly believe:
the assertion that house prices are falling
contention formal a strong opinion that someone expresses:
Her main contention is that doctors should do more to encourage healthy eating.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

insist to say firmly that someone should do something or that something should happen:
She insisted that it was her turn to drive.
demand to say very strongly and sometimes angrily that you want something or that something must happen:
I wrote a letter to the company, demanding an apology and a refund.
The guards demanded to see her ID.
require [usually passive] formal if you are required to do something, a rule or law says that you must do it:
The successful applicant will be required to sign a two-year contract.
be adamant to say very firmly that something must happen or is right, and refuse to change your mind when other people try to persuade you:
The actress has always been adamant about keeping her private life private.
won’t take no for an answer informal to insist that someone must do what you say or ask:
You’re coming home with me – I won’t take no for an answer.
put your foot down to say very firmly that someone must not do something:
Ed was talking about dropping out of school, but Mom and Dad put their foot down.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲