implore

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 Many social media users implored Alright to contact animal control who could remove the dogs from the property and get them to safety. Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025 The 39-year-old who has spent his entire career with Washington skated circles around center ice to implore for more, in between his emotional moments paying tribute to Gretzky and his family. Stephen Whyno, Baltimore Sun, 5 Apr. 2025 Even at the time, experts urged President Herbert Hoover not to sign the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act into law, with over 1,000 economists signing a petition imploring him not to sign. Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2025 Colby Pope, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, implored people to stay home if possible and remain vigilant, citing the potential for flooded roads and bad driving conditions. Amir Mahmoud, Arkansas Online, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for implore

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Cite this Entry

“Implore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/implore. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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