Definition of implorenext

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 Both daughters implored their father to confess to murdering their mother. — Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026 In the locker room at halftime, Alice, having spotted a limp, implores Gemma to sit out the second half, and, surprisingly, Gemma agrees. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026 In a video message posted on Thursday, Treaty Oak Revival implored their fans to refrain from throwing objects. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026 In his speech, Abbas once again implored the international community to take more vigorous action and speak out more loudly against Israel. — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for implore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for implore
Verb
  • Therein, a young woman sits on her dead lover’s grave for a year, begging to see him again.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
  • With Blauvelt's killer still on the loose, her family begged for answers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The BoMar Club has received just under thirty thousand dollars from the opioid settlement, to fix its roof and bolster outreach efforts, and Coleman was petitioning the commission for more money to redo the floor, which sagged under our feet.
    — Oliver Whang, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The group already was living in New Mexico when a Georgia juvenile court issued a pickup order for the boy after his mother petitioned for emergency custody.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Implore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/implore. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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