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

Relevance

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 The Supreme Court has long affirmed that incarceration does not erase constitutional protections. —Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025 The Dalai Lama, in turn, affirms the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama after the officeholder dies. —Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 Mar. 2025 There are plenty of other ways to compliment and affirm people. – Mad Mama Related Articles Asking Eric: Best friend is catastrophizing about everything Asking Eric: Niece’s visit tests generosity Dear Mama: Hear, hear. —R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025 Cautious optimism grew earlier in the week as the twice-daily health updates affirmed that the pope was eating solid food, sitting up in his armchair, and even taking care of simple work tasks from the comfort of his hospital room. —Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 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
  • The Dutchman was constantly shoehorned into an attacking midfield role that doesn’t bring out his best characteristics, yet Motta insisted on deploying him there.
    — Emmet Gates, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The government insisted there was no evidence that the AP had been harmed irreparably.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of insist
Verb
  • What was a eulogy if not a last chance to declare thoughts and feelings that have been withheld?
    — David Bezmozgis, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
  • South Africa, positioned in East Africa, is one of the world’s poorest and newest countries in the world, having declared independence in July 2011.
    — Filip Timotija, The Hill, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of declare
Verb
  • The union filed charges alleging violations of federal labor law with the NLRB.
    — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The administration has sent more than 200 Venezuelans to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, alleging that the migrants have gang ties, claims that families and attorneys of some of those deported have strongly denied.
    — Daniella Silva, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of allege
Verb
  • Her attorneys on Friday asked a federal court in Massachusetts to assert jurisdiction over her case, release her on bail as the litigation moves forward and restore her F-1 student visa.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Related Stories Still, Republicans and some corporations lined up to sue the SEC over the rule as soon as the agency released it, alleging that the agency had gone too far and asserting that the rule is unconstitutional.
    — Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of assert
Verb
  • My advice is to make every effort to escape your echo chamber, resist reading Reddit, and by all means ignore the clickbait on social media from companies claiming to have the secret formula to being admitted to highly selective colleges.
    — Brennan Barnard, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • The 20-year-old skater, who was born in Fairfax, Va., landed a quadruple Axel and five other quadruple jumps to claim the men's title by a commanding margin.
    — Lawrence Yee, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of claim
Verb
  • Intrigue in Read's case has only grown since the mistrial, as she's continued to share her story and proclaim her innocence.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Elk are being depleted by wolves, proclaim the Sportsmen’s Alliance, Safari Club International and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, all of which sued to block ESA protections.
    — Ted Williams, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of proclaim
Verb
  • The Trump administration’s policies have led to actions such as the withdrawal of federal funding from institutions maintaining DEI programs.
    — Jason Wingard, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The crew took the first X-ray in space, performed exercise studies to maintain muscle and skeletal mass and grew mushrooms in microgravity, the company said.
    — Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of maintain
Verb
  • Following an interview with TMZ from her room at the assisted living facility in which Williams professed to being in good mental health, NYPD officers performed a wellness check and subsequently escorted Williams to a hospital.
    — Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Trump professes his ability to make deals, and the saber-rattling of draconian levies on other countries is all part of the strategy to get the best arrangement possible where more goods are manufactured domestically, boosting American jobs and providing a fairer landscape for trade.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of profess

Browse Nearby Words

affinity
affirm
affirmation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Affirm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affirm. Accessed 11 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on affirm

Nglish: Translation of affirm for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things
See More

Popular

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All