Is it sexual assault if I said no several times, but the other person kept insisting until I eventually said yes?

I'm so sorry you went through this. What you're describing is a situation where your initial boundaries were clear. You said no multiple times. When someone continues to pressure you after you've declined, wearing you down until you agree, that "yes" isn't freely given. Consent requires that both people feel comfortable and respected in their decision. If you felt like you had to say "yes" just to stop the repeated insisting, or because you were exhausted by the pressure, it's understandable that this experience would leave you feeling violated.

Sexual assault doesn't only happen with physical force. It can also occur through coercion, where someone's repeated requests wear you down until you feel you have no other option but to agree. Coercion removes genuine consent because real consent needs to be freely given, not obtained through persistence, pressure, or manipulation.

You did nothing wrong by initially refusing and later giving in under pressure. It's completely understandable to question what happened and whether it "counts" as assault. Many survivors struggle with this exact question, especially when they eventually said yes. It can be confusing to recognize that a reluctant "yes" doesn't automatically mean there was genuine consent. But here's what matters: you tried to hold your boundary. You communicated what you wanted, or rather, what you didn't want. The fact that someone kept pushing past those stated boundaries until you relented doesn't mean you truly consented. It means you were worn down.

Your feelings about what happened matter, and if it was distressing or felt forced, your discomfort is valid. What you experienced was a violation of your boundaries. Whether you call it sexual assault or not is entirely up to you. Some people find that naming it helps them process what happened, while others don't feel that label fits their experience. Both responses are okay. What matters most is that you weren't treated with the respect you deserved, and what happened to you wasn't right.

You deserve support and understanding as you sort through these complex emotions. It may help to find someone you trust or a professional resource to talk with about how this is impacting you. Thank you for trusting us with this.