implore

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 Family members of those who were killed are imploring the state not to allow the camp to reopen this summer. Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 1 May 2026 Schmitt and many of his union members wore red at Monday's public hearing to implore the county council to increase public schools funding, saying more funding can help heal the cuts made in recent years. Dennis Valera, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026 Gobert was chief among the beggars imploring his teammates for a shred of consistency on that end of the floor. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Apr. 2026 California’s Democratic Party chair is imploring other low-polling candidates to drop out in hopes of preventing a Republican — or two — from advancing out of the June 2 primary. Chris Fusco april 23, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for implore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for implore
Verb
  • Adonis yells as Gillis begs him to pull over.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 15 May 2026
  • Beyond a few days with warmer temperatures, the real sign that spring has arrived is when my nose starts to run, my throat begins to itch, and my eyes are begging for eye drops every morning.
    Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • In October, 2024, Yotam Ben-Hillel, an Israeli human-rights lawyer, petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court on behalf of a coalition of international aid groups in an effort to force the Israeli government to address the situation.
    Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 15 May 2026
  • In August 2025, Broward County Circuit Court Judge Marlon Weiss ruled on a case of two men living in France who petitioned for early parental rights while their gestational carrier was pregnant.
    Ann Marie Luft, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Implore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/implore. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

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