Definition of adjurenext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word adjure distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of adjure are beg, beseech, entreat, implore, importune, and supplicate. While all these words mean "to ask urgently," adjure implies advising as well as pleading.

we were adjured to tell the truth

When can beg be used instead of adjure?

The synonyms beg and adjure are sometimes interchangeable, but beg suggests earnestness or insistence in the asking.

they begged for help

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

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 adjure?

While in some cases nearly identical to adjure, entreat implies an effort to persuade or to overcome resistance.

entreated me to join them

Where would importune be a reasonable alternative to adjure?

The words importune and adjure can be used in similar contexts, but importune suggests an annoying persistence in trying to break down resistance to a request.

importuning viewers for contributions

When would supplicate be a good substitute for adjure?

While the synonyms supplicate and adjure 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 adjure Despite the song’s topic, the music is joyful, light, as Carlito adjures Maya in Lingala, the language of Kinshasa and its environs: Listen to a voice calling you in the middle of the night. Nicolas Niarchos, The New Yorker, 26 June 2019 And Congress is adjured by the Fourteenth Amendment to enforce it against the states. WSJ, 25 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adjure
Verb
  • While conditions remain dangerous, experts advise reading the avalanche forecast, skiing with local expert guides and choosing shallower slopes to ski off-piste.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Athletes seeking their new professional passion upon retirement should be looking out for a good energy match, the champion rower advises.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Conner was instructed to focus on the individuals’ facial features and disregard their facial hair or hairstyle.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Williams has said that he was instructed to keep the airborne clash a secret — a rare and politically fraught confrontation between American and Soviet forces at a moment when the two Cold War adversaries were intent on avoiding open war.
    James LaPorta, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Against this background, European diplomats, as well as some US lawmakers, warned Zelensky that a trip to Washington was unwise.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
  • The San Joaquin Valley also received a freeze warning Thursday.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Manuelito is worried that Chee will flip out if Leaphorn doesn't soon tell him his plans to exit the Navajo Tribal Police and put her in charge.
    Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
  • But a resort spokesperson told South Tahoe Now that one incident involved the death of a 33-year-old man while skiing on an intermediate trail, and another was a medical emergency involving a 58-year-old man.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The omakase experience is delightful, and Shinya Takahashi's talent is impressive—almost as impressive as the fact that he's taught himself English in a couple of years via watching YouTube videos (all while raising five children).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Feb. 2026
  • The 30-year-old said that the whirlwind experience — being traded, shaving his bushy beard, disappointing his new team and getting demoted in less than a week’s time — taught him a lot about himself.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • If the Santa Barbara spot prawns (done in a harissa coffee marinade) are in season during your visit, order them ASAP.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
  • The weekly grocery bill has been around $500 with both kids living at home, and the family usually orders delivery twice a week, rotating between Chinese and Indian food, which typically costs $70, including leftovers.
    Eliza Shapiro, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Then the district eliminated the school’s therapist, who’d been counselling Justin, because of budget cuts mandated by the legislature.
    Tad Friend, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
  • From attending rallies and protests to offering safe spaces for people to gather, worship and counsel one another, faith leaders have often found themselves on the front lines.
    Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Kidd was noncommittal when asked if Flagg will play at all on Dallas’ upcoming three-game road trip, which has stops in Minnesota, Indiana and Brooklyn.
    Christian Clark, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Through a stellar debut season, freshman Jazzy Davidson has done everything for USC that was asked of her.
    Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Adjure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adjure. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.

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