as in to urge
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
the speaker exhorted the graduating students to go forth and try to make a difference in the world
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Recent Examples of exhort
The first allegiance is to God alone, Tobin added, but Scriptures exhort more often to do no harm to the foreigner and welcome the stranger than to love one’s neighbor.
—
Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Poor John Fanta, who had the mic after the game, had to exhort fans to stick around an extra minute or two and properly honor Karaban’s achievement.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
In an election statement in 2025, WGA West board member Adam Conover — who has his own popular channel on YouTube with nearly a million subscribers— exhorted the union to organize around YouTube and podcasts.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Trump has spent years dehumanizing immigrants, exhorting law enforcement to treat suspects more roughly, and attacking the rule of law.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exhort
Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Poor John Fanta, who had the mic after the game, had to exhort fans to stick around an extra minute or two and properly honor Karaban’s achievement.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
In an election statement in 2025, WGA West board member Adam Conover — who has his own popular channel on YouTube with nearly a million subscribers— exhorted the union to organize around YouTube and podcasts.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Trump has spent years dehumanizing immigrants, exhorting law enforcement to treat suspects more roughly, and attacking the rule of law.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exhort
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exhort
Verb
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Energage urges employers to use employee survey results, comments, and other feedback to identify gaps in learning opportunities and to improve existing programs.—
Bob Helbig,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
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Facing a looming deadline, Amazon is urging a federal regulator to grant an extension for its Starlink competitor, Leo, arguing that only SpaceX opposes the proposal.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Saturn in your companionable 7th house is encouraging Pluto in your playful 5th house, so the energy of these cosmic powerhouses should be a little less hard to handle and a lot more fun!—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Mar. 2026
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Those who noticed the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exhort.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exhort. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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