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 court will also hear arguments from a handful of news outlets petitioning to unseal the warrant that allowed the Sheriff’s Office to seize ballots.
—
Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
But Flynn also oozes sniveling self-righteousness while hotly defending and petitioning for childhood innocence (amusing hints emerge that the daughter is a somewhat lazy and dim underachiever).
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
Siri is also notable for petitioning the Food and Drug Administration to revoke the polio vaccine.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 6 Apr. 2026
Tennessee Senators have also begun petitioning for the state to suspend its gas tax, like Georgia and other states are doing.
—Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 31 Mar. 2026
Hickenlooper and Bennet skipped the assembly in favor of petitioning onto the ballot.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
The family is petitioning Israeli courts to get it back.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
Twenty-two European ministers are petitioning the organizers of the Venice Biennale to disinvite Russia from the prestigious event’s upcoming sixty-first edition, to open March 9.
—News Desk, Artforum, 12 Mar. 2026
Numerous speakers echoed Ferguson’s concern, accusing some on the commission of privately petitioning the state government to bypass the residents who wanted a direct say in honorary namings.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
But Flynn also oozes sniveling self-righteousness while hotly defending and petitioning for childhood innocence (amusing hints emerge that the daughter is a somewhat lazy and dim underachiever).
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
Siri is also notable for petitioning the Food and Drug Administration to revoke the polio vaccine.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 6 Apr. 2026
Tennessee Senators have also begun petitioning for the state to suspend its gas tax, like Georgia and other states are doing.
—Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 31 Mar. 2026
Hickenlooper and Bennet skipped the assembly in favor of petitioning onto the ballot.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026
The family is petitioning Israeli courts to get it back.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
Twenty-two European ministers are petitioning the organizers of the Venice Biennale to disinvite Russia from the prestigious event’s upcoming sixty-first edition, to open March 9.
—News Desk, Artforum, 12 Mar. 2026
Numerous speakers echoed Ferguson’s concern, accusing some on the commission of privately petitioning the state government to bypass the residents who wanted a direct say in honorary namings.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for petitioning
begging
Verb
-
The Blue Jays have been begging for a spark for the last six games, anything to reignite an offence and bring home a win.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
From the colorful pattern to the movement of her blouse, every inch of Hudson's outfit is begging to be worn during a breezy brunch outside with friends.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Petitioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/petitioning. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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