implore

Synonym Chooser

How is the word implore distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of implore are adjure, beg, beseech, entreat, importune, and supplicate. While all these words mean "to ask urgently," beseech and implore imply a deeply felt anxiety.

I beseech you to have mercy
implored her not to leave him

When might adjure be a better fit than implore?

While in some cases nearly identical to implore, adjure implies advising as well as pleading.

we were adjured to tell the truth

When is it sensible to use beg instead of implore?

The synonyms beg and implore are sometimes interchangeable, but beg suggests earnestness or insistence in the asking.

they begged for help

In what contexts can entreat take the place of implore?

In some situations, the words entreat and implore are roughly equivalent. However, entreat implies an effort to persuade or to overcome resistance.

entreated me to join them

When would importune be a good substitute for implore?

While the synonyms importune and implore are close in meaning, importune suggests an annoying persistence in trying to break down resistance to a request.

importuning viewers for contributions

When is supplicate a more appropriate choice than implore?

The words supplicate and implore are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, supplicate suggests a posture of humility.

with bowed heads they supplicated their Lord

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of implore Youngkin implored that funding from the continuing resolution that Congress passed last month should trickle down into the Old Dominion. Mabinty Quarshie, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 27 Jan. 2025 King championed racial equity and implored the nation’s leaders to address the systemic oppression plaguing Black communities. Char Adams, NBC News, 21 Jan. 2025 Standing atop a stake bed truck rented from Enterprise, Lisa Eugene, an activist with the Answer Coalition, shouted into a microphone and implored rally-goers to stay involved during Trump’s second term. Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2025 Spider-Man implores the chef to forgive her, and in doing so, earns a free pizza. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for implore 

Thesaurus Entries Near implore

Cite this Entry

“Implore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/implore. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on implore

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