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
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
Hundreds of postdoctoral scholars and research associates at Northwestern University voted to unionize this week, nearly two months after petitioning school officials.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Even in capital murder cases, the United States requires both criminal prosecutors and defense counsel to meet a rigorous legal standard when petitioning to disturb a mausoleum or grave.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025
State Farm is petitioning for an increase of 38% on renter dwelling policies, which is coverage for landlords, and 15% raise for renters.
—Dawn Giel,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2025
The Port of Seattle is petitioning to overturn a controversial new city law that allows housing in part of SoDo, escalating a political fight over the future of Seattle's industrial lands.
—Christine Clarridge, Axios, 9 Apr. 2025
So the firm decided to publicize the award by petitioning the Los Angeles Superior Court to confirm the settlement.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
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
Hundreds of postdoctoral scholars and research associates at Northwestern University voted to unionize this week, nearly two months after petitioning school officials.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Even in capital murder cases, the United States requires both criminal prosecutors and defense counsel to meet a rigorous legal standard when petitioning to disturb a mausoleum or grave.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025
State Farm is petitioning for an increase of 38% on renter dwelling policies, which is coverage for landlords, and 15% raise for renters.
—Dawn Giel,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2025
The Port of Seattle is petitioning to overturn a controversial new city law that allows housing in part of SoDo, escalating a political fight over the future of Seattle's industrial lands.
—Christine Clarridge, Axios, 9 Apr. 2025
So the firm decided to publicize the award by petitioning the Los Angeles Superior Court to confirm the settlement.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for petitioning
begging
Verb
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But quite incredibly, the third and final chance went begging as Ozer saved superbly.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
In a throwback to the warts-and-all silliness of the family’s legendary MTV reality show, The Osbournes, Coming Home appears to lean into the domestic comedy of the Osbourne clan, opening with a jittery Ozzy begging Sharon to stop driving in a herky-jerky manner.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Petitioning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/petitioning. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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