insistent

adjective

in·​sis·​tent in-ˈsi-stənt 

1

: disposed to insist : persistent

2

: compelling attention

the insistent pounding of the waves

insistently adverb

Synonyms of insistent

• persistent
• resolute

Examples of insistent in a Sentence

We listened to the insistent crashing of waves on the beach.

Margaret Sanger is remembered as an insistent crusader for birth control.

Recent Examples on the Web

Del Toro was insistent that the texture and grain of the original movie, which was shot on film, remain. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026

In 2016, Senator Bernie Sanders shocked the Democratic establishment by running a close race against Hillary Clinton for the Party’s Presidential nomination, thanks to his insistent focus on income and wealth inequality. — Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Zach was very insistent on paralleling the book, where the reader knows immediately that this is a psycho. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026

The spectral are getting louder, more insistent, more prevalent, and our literature, our cinema, reflect this. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin insistent-, insistens, present participle of insistere

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for insistent

• assistant
• consistent
• existent
• persistent
• resistant
• subsistent
• coexistent
• equidistant
• inconsistent
• nonexistent
• preexistent
• distant

Kids Definition

insistent

adjective

in·​sis·​tent in-ˈsis-tənt 

: demanding attention : persistent

insistently adverb