as in to beg
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner
she was always importuning people for favors, even when she had no right to ask
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in importunate
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of importune
Evan Dudley, al, 2 Nov. 2022
Judith Martin, Mercury News, 15 July 2025
Four years later the line was importuned for Robinson Cano.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2024
In 1982, she was importuned to join the board of Bronx River Restoration and readily accepted.
—Sam Roberts, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024
For one thing, Acts 156 and 157 alleged in the complaint pick out actions Trump took on September 17, 2021, still importuning Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to decertify the election.
—Aziz Huq, Time, 21 Aug. 2023
Said brother was importuned only occasionally, a distant wingman to these sorties.
—Wyatt Mason, Harper's Magazine, 6 Jan. 2023
This may be in part because those whose first overtures were ignored conclude that the widow wants to be left alone, and thus cease to importune her.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2022
Stewart Dickerson, 64, is charged with importuning and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, according to jail records.
—Madeline Mitchell, Cincinnati.com, 28 Feb. 2020
In exchange for his guilty plea, Cuyahoga County prosecutors dropped charges of importuning and possessing criminal tools.
—Cory Shaffer, cleveland, 26 Feb. 2020
Verb
The Blazers did not turn the ball over but importune mistakes resulted in the Owls taking an early lead and eventually surging ahead in the second half.
—Evan Dudley, al, 2 Nov. 2022
Adjective
Miss Manners understands that people who have trouble saying no might be sorry to disappoint those who importune them.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 15 July 2025
Four years later the line was importuned for Robinson Cano.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2024
In 1982, she was importuned to join the board of Bronx River Restoration and readily accepted.
—Sam Roberts, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024
For one thing, Acts 156 and 157 alleged in the complaint pick out actions Trump took on September 17, 2021, still importuning Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to decertify the election.
—Aziz Huq, Time, 21 Aug. 2023
Said brother was importuned only occasionally, a distant wingman to these sorties.
—Wyatt Mason, Harper's Magazine, 6 Jan. 2023
This may be in part because those whose first overtures were ignored conclude that the widow wants to be left alone, and thus cease to importune her.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2022
Stewart Dickerson, 64, is charged with importuning and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, according to jail records.
—Madeline Mitchell, Cincinnati.com, 28 Feb. 2020
In exchange for his guilty plea, Cuyahoga County prosecutors dropped charges of importuning and possessing criminal tools.
—Cory Shaffer, cleveland, 26 Feb. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for importune
Verb
-
Continue reading … 'DON’T DO IT' – 'The View' host begs music legend to snub Trump's Kennedy Center honor.—
,
FOXNews.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
His home run in Milwaukee last October likely kept him in a Mets uniform this season, with the fans begging the club to sign their homegrown hero.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The institute petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2024 to take up the case of a Massachusetts dad denied the ability to video-record his son's special education accommodation conferences.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
13 Aug. 2025
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The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), for instance, petitioned the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to approve digital labeling in place of traditional tags in February, a move that echoes DPP’s goals of reducing waste and improving information access.—
Megan Brewster,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
For many, the conditions made our eyes itchy and were just sort of bothersome.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Aug. 2025
-
The effects can be particularly bothersome for contact lens wearers.—
Cheryl Wagemann,
Glamour,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Importune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/importune. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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