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
The discovery showcases the diversity of life that exists in a place experiencing rapid climate change — which is why scientists are petitioning for the Weddell Sea’s fragile ecosystem to be protected by law.
—
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Bijou Phillips, the estranged wife of Danny Masterson, is reportedly petitioning a California court to change her 11-year-old daughter's name.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
The Secret Garden Bar & Cafe closed abruptly during service on Friday morning after workers began petitioning passers-by about their efforts to form a union.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2025
Shelton Vineyards is one of the oldest wineries in North Carolina and the original owners, a pair of brothers, are credited with petitioning the government for the Yadkin Valley to be formally recognized as an AVA.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
But, years before Dobbs, a group of activists calling themselves the Respect New Mexico Women campaign began petitioning lawmakers to overturn the ban.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
So local residents raised the funds instead, with the Prescott Kiwanis Club petitioning citizens to buy $1 shares of the hotel, ultimately raising a total of $150,000.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
The investor reaction isn’t surprising given the constant thrum of anti-vaccine misinformation since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Kennedy’s own role through the Children’s Defense Fund back in May 2021 in petitioning the federal government to revoke authorization of COVID-19 vaccines.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
With that and five other Florida Bar cases over her head, Hufnagel cut the professional rope, petitioning for disciplinary revocation.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Bijou Phillips, the estranged wife of Danny Masterson, is reportedly petitioning a California court to change her 11-year-old daughter's name.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
The Secret Garden Bar & Cafe closed abruptly during service on Friday morning after workers began petitioning passers-by about their efforts to form a union.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2025
Shelton Vineyards is one of the oldest wineries in North Carolina and the original owners, a pair of brothers, are credited with petitioning the government for the Yadkin Valley to be formally recognized as an AVA.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
But, years before Dobbs, a group of activists calling themselves the Respect New Mexico Women campaign began petitioning lawmakers to overturn the ban.
—Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
So local residents raised the funds instead, with the Prescott Kiwanis Club petitioning citizens to buy $1 shares of the hotel, ultimately raising a total of $150,000.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
The investor reaction isn’t surprising given the constant thrum of anti-vaccine misinformation since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Kennedy’s own role through the Children’s Defense Fund back in May 2021 in petitioning the federal government to revoke authorization of COVID-19 vaccines.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
With that and five other Florida Bar cases over her head, Hufnagel cut the professional rope, petitioning for disciplinary revocation.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for petitioning
begging
Verb
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This snappy set is begging to be paired with your fave sunglasses to create a mysteriously cool look this fall.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Nessarose, who uses a wheelchair, is seen levitating after begging Elphaba to wield her magical powers to give her the ability to walk.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Petitioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/petitioning. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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