| Held |
| Stated |
| Alleged |
| Declared |
| Affirmed |
| Defended |
| Put forth |
| Professed |
| Put forward |
| Was emphatic |
| Held, as claims |
| Said positively |
| Stated strongly |
| Confidently said |
| Made a statement |
| Made a case (for) |
| Said with conviction |
| Stated with conviction |
| Defended, as one's rights |