What does insistent mean?
Word: Insistent
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Insistent means demanding something firmly and refusing to take no for an answer. It can also describe a sound that goes on and cannot be ignored.
How do you spell insistent?
Syllables: in - sis - tent
Tricky part: The ending is the trap. It sounds as if it could be ant, and many pupils write it that way, but this word takes ent.
Watch out for: insistant, insistint, insistand
Memory tip: Push so hard that you leave a dent: that is how an insistent person's ending is spelt.
Insistent in a sentence
Example 1: Asha was insistent that everyone should sign the birthday card.
Example 2: Despite the drizzle, the coach remained insistent on finishing the drill.
Example 3: The insistent ring of the alarm clock finally got Dev out of bed.
Fun Fact
It goes back to Latin insistere, to stand on or press upon, and someone who insists is, in a way, standing their ground.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
innsistent
a) e
b) n
c) t
d) s
Show answer
b) n. One n is all the opening needs.
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence contains a jumbled word. Choose the word it hides:
My little brother's tsnietins tugging at my sleeve finally made me look up from my book.
a) insistent
b) instalment
c) innocent
d) instinct
Show answer
a) insistent. Two s's and two t's with no l, m or c leave one word.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word insistent as used in the sentence:
An insistent tapping at the hostel window turned out to be a crow after our breakfast.
a) persistent
b) gentle
c) distant
d) occasional
Show answer
a) persistent. The tapping would not stop, and persistent describes exactly that.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. rhinoceros 2. incistent 3. orchestra 4. cylinder
a) a solid shape with circular ends
b) a large thick-skinned animal with a horned snout
c) not willing to accept a refusal
d) a large group of musicians playing together
Show answer
c) not willing to accept a refusal. Both hissing sounds in this word are written with an s, never a c.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. At home, which of these is the clearest sign of an insistent parent?
a) one asking if anyone would like more dal
b) one repeating that shoes must stay off the sofa
c) one wondering where the old photographs went
d) one mentioning that the rain might stop soon
Show answer
b) one repeating that shoes must stay off the sofa
2. How would an insistent customer most likely behave at a shop?
a) ask once about the price and then walk away
b) thank the staff and pay at the front counter
c) leave quietly after a short look at the shelves
d) keep asking for the manager until one comes
Show answer
d) keep asking for the manager until one comes
