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 In his final plea to the jury, Barrett implored them to consider the injuries suffered by the survivors, some with wounds in their arms and legs and one who survived a gunshot to the head, indicate Edgar didn’t intend to kill them. Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026 Authorities implored all of them to leave and be prepared to stay away for several days, because shifting and strengthening winds were expected to make the fire even more unpredictable. John Raby, Christian Science Monitor, 23 Aug. 2026 The last, written shortly after George Floyd’s death, implored people to listen to state-champion basketball coach Mike Bethea — a black man urging the public not to stereotype cops. Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Security soon arrives on the scene as someone implores them to take one of the men to jail. Adam Harrington, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for implore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for implore
Verb
  • Gianni Infantino went from immovable king of football to touring the world, begging people for support.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • But this begs the parallel question of what the current museum architecture arises from and reflects, and why the oceanic and the oligarchic logics of the museum’s reformation now travel together here.
    George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • If the teams refuse to enroll the players who benefit from the TRO, those players could petition Hoffman to clarify that his order also blocks the SEC from punishing schools.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The accusations surfaced after the Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy (COGS) petitioned to have a court unseal the divorce records dating to 2012.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!