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 Prosecutors had pushed for life sentences and implored the court to take into account evidence of the particularly cruel nature of the brothers’ attacks. — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 27 Oct. 2026 Perhaps most importantly, Sweeney implored people to understand that painting is a matter of communication. — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026 Luna implores Yue, recently divorced, not to get stuck in a holding pattern, either in her career or her relationships — but Luna, too, needs to make some changes. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026 In an effusive video message, posted soon after watching Digger in a theater, the Homeland star implored his followers to ignore the haters and watch Tom Cruise‘s ecological disaster movie. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for implore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for implore
Verb
  • Fans have been begging Carey to free Someone’s Ugly Daughter from the archives for years, with the album currently existing only under the pseudonym Chick with Clarissa Dane on vocals instead of Mimi.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 2 Nov. 2026
  • A couple of passing witches in distressed fish-nets aww-ed at the sight of the dog begging for the second half of his cone.
    — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Some are petitioning the State to dissolve the Union, to disregard the requisitions of the President.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • New Jersey petitioned the Supreme Court to resolve the circuit split, and 39 other states and the District of Columbia filed a brief supporting New Jersey’s petition.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 29 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Implore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/implore. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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