affirm

verb

ə-ˈfərm How to pronounce affirm (audio)
Definition of affirmnext
1
as in to insist
to state as a fact usually forcefully unwilling to affirm without further study that the painting is an original Rembrandt

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to declare
to state clearly and strongly our business partner affirmed his trust in us, and we in turn promised not to let him down

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word affirm distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of affirm are assert, avow, declare, and protest. While all these words mean "to state positively usually in anticipation of denial or objection," affirm implies conviction based on evidence, experience, or faith.

affirmed the existence of an afterlife

When would assert be a good substitute for affirm?

While in some cases nearly identical to affirm, assert implies stating confidently without need for proof or regard for evidence.

asserted that modern music is just noise

When might avow be a better fit than affirm?

Although the words avow and affirm have much in common, avow stresses frank declaration and acknowledgment of personal responsibility for what is declared.

avowed that all investors would be repaid in full

When can declare be used instead of affirm?

While the synonyms declare and affirm are close in meaning, declare stresses open or public statement.

declared her support for the candidate

When is it sensible to use protest instead of affirm?

The words protest and affirm are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, protest emphasizes affirming in the face of denial or doubt.

protested that he really had been misquoted

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of affirm At the same time with all of this, box office sources, not just Disney, affirm that Snow White played evenly across the country. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2025 Subsequent studies appeared to affirm the correlation, strengthening the belief among the general public about the benefits of red wine. —Dylan Scott, Vox, 14 Mar. 2025 Education Secretary Linda McMahon affirmed late Tuesday that mass layoffs are the first step toward shuttering the Education Department — a longtime goal of President Trump’s since his time on the campaign trail. —Filip Timotija, The Hill, 12 Mar. 2025 The Supreme Court has long affirmed that incarceration does not erase constitutional protections. —Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for affirm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affirm
  1. insist
  2. declare
  3. allege
  4. assert
  5. claim
  6. proclaim
  7. maintain
  8. profess
Verb
  • All of which leaves Francis, the spiritual leader of more than a billion Catholics, insisting on a welcoming and internationalist worldview that has gone out of style.
    — Jason Horowitz, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Sheinbaum remained vague on details, but insisted that her administration would seek to work with Trump.
    — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of insist
Verb
  • In response, Bukele declared a state of exception, which is still in effect, suspending many of the country’s due process rights and commencing a wave of mass arrests.
    — Danielle Mackey, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
  • More than two decades ago, measles was declared eliminated from the U.S., thanks in large part to a successful vaccination program.
    — Chantelle Lee, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of declare
Verb
  • The lawsuit, which was filed in a Massachusetts federal court, alleges the government violated Harvard's First Amendment right to free speech by freezing the $2.2 billion in funds and threatening additional cuts.
    — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union asked the Supreme Court on Monday to clarify what kind of legal notice their clients, alleged Tren de Aragua members, should receive before they are deported under the Alien Enemies Act.
    — Ashley Oliver, The Washington Examiner, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of allege
Verb
  • Thirteen judges already fired since Trump started his second term filed a class appeal earlier this month, asserting that they had been wrongfully terminated.
    — Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Read has pleaded not guilty, denied killing O'Keefe and alleged she is being framed, attempting to sow reasonable doubt in prosecutors' claims and asserting that someone else killed O'Keefe and had ties to and influence over the investigation.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Definition of assert
Verb
  • Militant violence has afflicted Kashmir, claimed in full but ruled in part by both Hindu-majority India and Islamic Pakistan, since the anti-Indian insurgency began in 1989.
    — Fayaz Bukhari, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The disease was also spreading swiftly, infecting hundreds and claiming dozens of lives within a few weeks.
    — Peter Sands, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of claim
Verb
  • There are a couple of reasons why proclaiming the Good News from the Department of State’s website isn’t such good news.
    — Chloe Breyer, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
  • In the ’80s, de-graffiti-fying and air conditioning the subways proclaimed to the world that New York was purring again.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of proclaim
Verb
  • Follow the journalist for a continued conversation about the risks of injectables, why founders need to invest in TikTok, and how to maintain success as a beauty brand in 2024’s saturated market.
    — Dahvi Shira, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Things like getting enough sleep, exercising and maintaining social connections all make a difference in improving one's outlook – which can in turn make a significant difference in weathering financial uncertainty or landing a new job.
    — Katia Riddle, NPR, 28 Apr. 2025
Definition of maintain
Verb
  • Still, Williams continued to profess his innocence in court Thursday, telling O’Neill that police had arrested the wrong man.
    — Vinny Vella, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Snake oil salesmen have been professing to cure all sorts of ailments for centuries.
    — Hayley Krischer, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of profess

Browse Nearby Words

affinity
affirm
affirmation
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Cite this Entry

“Affirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affirm. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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