self-assertion.

The confident expression of one's needs, rights, or opinions.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• healthy self-assertion
• act of self-assertion

On the page

Her refusal was an act of self-assertion, not hostility.

Usage notes

Primary category: psychology / human behavior. Forms: Usually uncountable; no ordinary plural in this sense. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Commonness: moderately common.