Definition of begnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word beg distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of beg are adjure, beseech, entreat, implore, importune, and supplicate. While all these words mean "to ask urgently," beg suggests earnestness or insistence in the asking.

they begged for help

Where would adjure be a reasonable alternative to beg?

Although the words adjure and beg have much in common, adjure implies advising as well as pleading.

we were adjured to tell the truth

How are the words beseech and implore related as synonyms of beg?

Both beseech and implore imply a deeply felt anxiety.

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

In what contexts can entreat take the place of beg?

The synonyms entreat and beg are sometimes interchangeable, but entreat implies an effort to persuade or to overcome resistance.

entreated me to join them

When is it sensible to use importune instead of beg?

In some situations, the words importune and beg are roughly equivalent. However, importune suggests an annoying persistence in trying to break down resistance to a request.

importuning viewers for contributions

When might supplicate be a better fit than beg?

While the synonyms supplicate and beg are close in meaning, 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 beg Victoria Gotti, John Gotti’s daughter, has been begging Choudhury to spare her fraudster son from prison time since March. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 18 July 2026 In the show’s final scenes, he’s held by his father, Pino (Luis Alberti), who begs him not to forget him. Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 Its 12th-generation Intel Core i7-1265U processor and 32GB of DDR4 RAM can keep large spreadsheets, browser tabs, video calls, and other daily programs moving without immediately begging for mercy. Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 17 July 2026 At one point, Guinness begged director George Lucas to kill off Obi-Wan. Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for beg
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beg
Verb
  • Attorney Raed Gonzalez petitioned the court for the release of Pliego and another witness who was riding in the vehicle, Daniel Tirado Pantoja.
    Armando Garcia, ABC News, 21 July 2026
  • However, if someone petitions the court, a judge could order the HOA into a receivership.
    Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • Of significance, the city is asking the Blazers to pay $3 million annually for a property tax offset, which would escalate over time.
    Jason Quick, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Some hospitality workers may have been asked to work longer hours during the games for higher pay – but that wouldn’t show up meaningfully in the jobs report.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • The Gion Matsuri originated in the late 9th century as a ritual to appease spirits believed to cause epidemics and to pray for protection from disease.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • That's of concern to Orthodox Jews, who pray three times a day, beginning with the Shacharit morning prayer service, which by tradition cannot begin in the dark.
    Yonat Shimron, NPR, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • In a news conference shortly after Risacher was removed from the starting lineup, Hawks coach Quin Snyder implored him to play more aggressively and attack the glass.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Page’s character Sinon is the soldier tasked with informing the Trojans that the Trojan Horse is a gift from the Greeks, imploring them to drag the giant statue into the city with Odysseus, Menelaus (Jon Bernthal) and more soldiers inside.
    Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • The play is set in a lecture hall in 1890, as Theo (played by Pasternak) recounts his memories of Vincent and beseeches the audience — and the world — to understand his brother.
    Steve Palopoli, Mercury News, 2 May 2026
  • Some Cypress Village residents are beseeching the city to keep it that way, even as the HOA applies to let the pickle balling resume.
    Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Beg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beg. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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