insistence

The act of continuing to say that something must happen or is true.

• His insistence finally changed their minds.
• Her insistence on paying surprised me.
• Despite his repeated insistence, nobody believed the story.

How to use it: insistence on something/doing something (His insistence on following every rule slowed us down.); insistence that… (Her insistence that she was right annoyed everyone.)

Similar words: persistence

Common phrases: continued insistence, stubborn insistence, insistence on something

A strong demand that someone do something.

• We stayed at her insistence.
• At my father’s insistence, I called the police.
• Their insistence that we pay immediately seemed unreasonable.

How to use it: at someone’s insistence (At her doctor’s insistence, she took a week off.); insistence that someone do something (His insistence that we leave immediately caused an argument.)

Similar words: demand

Common phrases: at someone’s insistence, urgent insistence

In fencing, using strength to push an attack through an opponent’s attempt to block it.

• The fencer used insistence to overcome the block.
• His insistence forced the blade past her defence.
• The coach demonstrated an attack with insistence.

Common phrases: insistence against parry, attack with insistence