insist
insist Lexical Profile
insist Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To demand something forcefully, refusing to accept any opposition, excuse, or refusal.
"The host insisted that we stay for dinner despite the late hour."
To state or maintain positively and persistently that something is true, especially in the face of doubt or contradiction.
"Even after reviewing the new evidence, the witness insisted that his original account was accurate."
Word Nuance & Usage
When followed by a noun or gerund, 'insist' requires the preposition 'on' or 'upon' (e.g., 'she insisted on paying'), and it should not be confused with 'persist', which means to continue doing something despite difficulty.
• Rhymes for insist
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 16th century from Middle French insister or directly from Latin insistere ('to stand upon, set foot on, or persevere'), formed from in- ('upon') and sistere ('to take a stand').