sup·pli·cate
ˈsə-plə-ˌkāt 
supplicated; supplicating
: to make a humble entreaty
especially
: to pray to God
sup·pli·ca·tion
ˌsəpləˈkāshən
plural -s
1
: the act or process of supplicating : humble and earnest entreaty
pained by such tender, such flattering supplication—
Jane Austen
Jane Austen2
a(1)
archaic
: a formal written petition
(2)
b
: a humble and earnest petition : entreaty, solicitation
the last supplication … I make of you is, that you will believe this of me—Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
c
: a humble prayer to a deity for mercy, aid, or special blessing
kneeling together on a spit of sand, with their arms raised in supplication—R. L. Stevenson
R. L. Stevenson3
obsolete
: a public religious observance of thanksgiving or religious humiliation in ancient Rome : a day set apart for such an observance
Examples of supplicate in a Sentence
Verb
the minister reminded his flock that God is a being to be obeyed and worshipped always and not just someone to be supplicated in times of trouble
Recent Examples on the Web
Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
The windows do away with the plaintive or supplicating figures more common to Christian stained glass.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2023
Now, finally, Farley, as chief of Ford for barely half a year, has come to supplicate before the narrative.
—Dale Buss, Forbes, 1 June 2021
Committees should draw power from their accomplishments, not based on which industries need to supplicate before the gavel.
—Ben Sasse, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2020
Two rows of little red devils bow at the magician’s feet, as though supplicating a supreme figure of dark and mysterious powers.
—Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2020
But while its competitors were giving grandiose speeches and supplicating at the White House, the company’s content-moderation choices stood out as an example of a social network with a moral compass.
—Kevin Roose, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2019
To restore their good standing, executives must supplicate, with minimal guidance from the party-state.
—Isaac Stone Fish, Twin Cities, 14 Oct. 2019
In short, the PCBE happily rubber-stamped the backwards and anti-science decrees of Bush and Cheney in an effort to supplicate the deranged Christian base of the Republican party.
—Kyle Munkittrick, Discover Magazine, 22 Feb. 2011
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.
Verb
State and local leaders affected by disasters might supplicate themselves to the president in order to receive the patronage of disaster aid.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
The windows do away with the plaintive or supplicating figures more common to Christian stained glass.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2023
Now, finally, Farley, as chief of Ford for barely half a year, has come to supplicate before the narrative.
—Dale Buss, Forbes, 1 June 2021
Committees should draw power from their accomplishments, not based on which industries need to supplicate before the gavel.
—Ben Sasse, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2020
Two rows of little red devils bow at the magician’s feet, as though supplicating a supreme figure of dark and mysterious powers.
—Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2020
But while its competitors were giving grandiose speeches and supplicating at the White House, the company’s content-moderation choices stood out as an example of a social network with a moral compass.
—Kevin Roose, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2019
To restore their good standing, executives must supplicate, with minimal guidance from the party-state.
—Isaac Stone Fish, Twin Cities, 14 Oct. 2019
In short, the PCBE happily rubber-stamped the backwards and anti-science decrees of Bush and Cheney in an effort to supplicate the deranged Christian base of the Republican party.
—Kyle Munkittrick, Discover Magazine, 22 Feb. 2011
Cite this Entry
“Supplicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supplicate. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
supplicate
verb
sup·pli·cate
ˈsəp-lə-ˌkāt
supplicated; supplicating
1
: to make a humble appeal
especially
: to pray to God
2
: to ask earnestly and humbly
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
