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insister

insister

6.6
A person who keeps asking for something or firmly holds an opinion
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈsɪstər/
translation icon : insistente
  • The insister at the meeting urged everyone to support the new policy changes.

Examples

  • Such insisters appeared immune, not only to disconfirming scientific evidence about such things as the age of the earth and the evolution of the species but also to disconfirming evidence in the Bible itself.

    Academic text (2002)
  • One could infer that the insisters have weak reasoning powers in general.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Most (6) of these 8 had been insisters after they read the Gospel accounts.

    Academic text (2002)
  • But it is significantly lower than the 133.5 mean of the insisters by a one-tailed test at the .025 level, t(30) = 2.09.

    Academic text (2002)
  • An insister who advocates for climate change action spoke passionately at the rally.

  • As an insister on equal rights, she often engages in discussions about social justice.

Synonyms

stickler
vsinsister
21 7.9

A person who always wants things done exactly and carefully

is more general, used for repeated demands or firmly held opinions
doctrinaire
vsinsister
  • Formal
1 9.9

A person who sticks to fixed ideas and refuses to change them even if they do not work

is broader, covering repeated requests or strong opinions rather than rigid ideology
demander
vsinsister
8.2

A person who asks for something, often firmly or formally

also covers holding beliefs strongly as well as making demands
persister
vsinsister
6.9

A person who keeps trying despite problems or opposition

tends to mean making repeated demands or holding firm opinions rather than mere endurance

Antonyms

19 4.2

A person who does not believe something is true or is unsure about it

How Insistent

insister
6.6
demander
8.2
requester
  • UK
3 3.5

Surface Forms

insister singular
insisters plural

Morphology

insister = insist (transparent) = insist + er

The noun is a straightforward agent noun formed from the verb 'insist' with '-er', so learners who know 'insist' will readily infer 'insister'.

Etymology

Insister comes from the Latin verb insistere, with in- meaning 'on' and sistere meaning 'to stand', so it is like someone who 'stands on' a point. That's why an insister is a person who keeps asking or firmly holds a view and will not give up.