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I/Insist
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Insist

To demand something forcefully or to assert something firmly, often with little tolerance for disagreement.

verb
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Imagine This

Imagine a council member who refuses to budge, repeatedly saying, 'We will adopt this plan,' until every member agrees or concedes.

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Sounds Like

in-SIST

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Looks Like

consist, persist (shares the -sist ending from the root meaning 'stand')

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Remember This

Common collocations are insist on doing something and insist that someone do something. The first takes a gerund (insist on walking), the second uses a that-clause or the subjunctive (insist that he go).

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Other Forms

insistedverb
insistingverb
insistencenoun
insistentadjective
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Connect With

demand, require, urge, press, assert; firmness, persistence

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Note

Do not confuse with 'persist' (continue despite difficulty); 'insist' emphasizes demand or firm assertion, often with an expectation of action.

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Study Deeper

Examples
  • She insisted that he apologize for the mistake.
  • The manager insisted on a written approval before proceeding.
Synonyms
demandurgepressassertmaintain
Antonyms
acquiescerelentyield
Etymology

From Latin insistere, in- 'upon' + sistere 'to stand', meaning to stand firmly or to press upon someone.

Mnemonic

Mnemonic: IN + SIST = stand in; when you insist, you stand your ground on an issue.