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 One fateful night, while lamenting her responsibilities, Sarah begs the Goblin King to take her brother away. Logan Karlie september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025 Back in July 2023, the Fast & Furious star took to Instagram with a heartfelt PSA practically begging for someone to help connect him with Blige. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 2 Sep. 2025 In 2021, she was filmed begging for food on a street corner in Atlanta. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2025 Between Laura running away to the mountains to beg God to take her instead (this show got heavy) and Ernest Borgnine swooping in as her guardian angel, this is one episode that’s permanently burned into our brains. Kelly Martinez, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beg
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beg
Verb
  • Haunted by the lack of answers and stymied by Mexican authorities, Barraza has turned to Chicago attorney John Lee to petition an international tribunal for help in finding the truth and getting justice.
    Ray Long, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Heuermann's defense team petitioned the judge to exclude the evidence, arguing that whole genome sequencing is not widely accepted by the scientific community.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Clattenburg, whose post-refereeing commitments have ranged from acting as a consultant to Nottingham Forest to starring on the UK television show Gladiators, was asked by Paqueta’s legal team to pass observation on the four games being viewed as suspicious.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Prime Invitees can either ask the Prime member in their households to add them to their Amazon Family or sign up for their own Prime membership.
    Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In a ceremony broadcast live on Facebook, hundreds of Catholics can be seen singing, praying and honoring the shrine by laying yellow sunflowers as offerings.
    Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Trump calls on Americans to pray for nation as 250th birthday approaches.
    , FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Many implored the council to use civil disobedience to fight back.
    Rachel Royster September 2, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2025
  • To that end, Democratic congressional leadership has implored their counterparts to start talks as soon as practicable, considering any piece of legislation will require 60 votes in the Senate.
    Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The director, who wore mismatched socks onstage, beseeched his audience to ask him anything.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 18 Aug. 2025
  • And almost certainly because Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson beseeched him to recognize the network’s value and offered to come onboard as creative advisors.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 9 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Beg.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beg. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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