as in begging
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner
petitioned the judge to be excused from jury duty for financial hardship
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Recent Examples of petitioning
LeVota recently made a last-minute pitch to the Missouri State Tax Commission, petitioning state legislators to issue a two-year property tax freeze for all residential parcels in Jackson County.
—
Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026
But Ancel Glink representatives said Odelson, Murphey, Frazier and McGrath overstepped by petitioning to represent Calumet City in both a labor dispute and a lawsuit where a former employee claims Jones extorted him and wrongfully terminated his employment.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Despite already petitioning onto the June primary election ballot, Marx won nearly 40% of the vote at the Republican state assembly last month.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 26 May 2026
Last year, she was also impeached by the House but survived by successfully petitioning the Supreme Court to declare the impeachment bid unconstitutional on a technicality.
—Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
The city is petitioning a Tarrant County court to place the Mary Elizabeth Apartments into receivership over unpaid water bills and code violations.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2026
Change may come from the states Following NPR's reporting in December, 40 members of Congress signed a letter petitioning the VA, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission to crack down on predatory practices by claims companies.
—Quil Lawrence, NPR, 4 May 2026
The city of Meriden is also petitioning to retain custody of the two cats with a hearing scheduled for Friday at the Meriden Superior Court.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Several European nations, including Spain, Italy, and Portugal, are also petitioning the EU to revive a windfall tax system last imposed in 2022 during the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 31 May 2026
But Ancel Glink representatives said Odelson, Murphey, Frazier and McGrath overstepped by petitioning to represent Calumet City in both a labor dispute and a lawsuit where a former employee claims Jones extorted him and wrongfully terminated his employment.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Despite already petitioning onto the June primary election ballot, Marx won nearly 40% of the vote at the Republican state assembly last month.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 26 May 2026
Last year, she was also impeached by the House but survived by successfully petitioning the Supreme Court to declare the impeachment bid unconstitutional on a technicality.
—Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
The city is petitioning a Tarrant County court to place the Mary Elizabeth Apartments into receivership over unpaid water bills and code violations.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2026
Change may come from the states Following NPR's reporting in December, 40 members of Congress signed a letter petitioning the VA, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission to crack down on predatory practices by claims companies.
—Quil Lawrence, NPR, 4 May 2026
The city of Meriden is also petitioning to retain custody of the two cats with a hearing scheduled for Friday at the Meriden Superior Court.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Several European nations, including Spain, Italy, and Portugal, are also petitioning the EU to revive a windfall tax system last imposed in 2022 during the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for petitioning
begging
Verb
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In a story this complicated, where everyone from a little girl to a grown man from Boston is begging for their humanity, even Howard Stevens deserves some, too.—
Lyz Lenz,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2026
-
Small steps were made, but dissatisfaction set in towards the end — and a golden chance went begging.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Petitioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/petitioning. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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