mindmap root((坚称)) maintain stresses firmness of conviction, and is likely to suggest persistent or insistent upholding of a cause and may suggest aggressiveness or obtrusiveness: steadfastly ~ed his client's innocence. assert suggests a determination to make others accept one's claim of one's position: fiercely ~ed that credit for discovery belonged to her. defend implies maintaining one's claim in the face of attack or criticism: I need not ~ my wartime record. vindicate implies a successful defending: his success ~d our faith in him. justify implies a showing to be true, right, acceptable, or valid by appeal to a standard or precedent: threats to public safety ~ied such drastic steps.