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importunate

adjective

im-ˈpȯr-chə-nət How to pronounce importunate (audio)
Definition of importunatenext
as in urgent
needing immediate attention the demands of the chairmanship were becoming too importunate for me to continue without an assistant

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 importunate Dragonfly males are so importunate that some females play dead to avoid their advances. — Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for importunate
  1. urgent
  2. acute
Adjective
  • The imperative to continue to innovate and scale climate technology feels more urgent to me every year.
    — Stéphane Germain, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026
  • An urgent competition for the Moon The flashpoint of the near future is the Moon, where both NASA and China are in a contest to not just land humans but also establish a long-term settlement.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of urgent
Adjective
  • At the start of the war, many economists and analysts feared that the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz would provoke an acute energy crisis and economic downturn, or worse.
    — RICHARD HAASS, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Five people were charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine to Perry, who died from acute effects of the drug.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of acute

Browse Nearby Words

imports
importunate
importune
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Cite this Entry

“Importunate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/importunate. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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