Synonyms of solicit

solicit

verb

sə-ˈli-sət 

1

as in to survey

to go around and approach (people) with a request for opinions or information

solicited several opinions about which job he should accept

Synonyms & Similar Words

• survey
• interview
• canvass
• poll
• interrogate
• question
• circularize
• sound (out)
• feel (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• report

2

as in to seek

to make a request for

always ready to solicit donations for a charity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seek
• request
• require
• desire
• speak (for)
• sue (for)
• call (for)
• plead (for)
• urge
• ask (for)
• invite
• quest
• apply (for)
• demand
• bespeak
• importune
• wish (for)
• invoke
• beg (for)
• claim
• insist (on)
• enjoin
• press (for)
• clamor (for)
• exact
• requisition
• petition (for)

3

as in to ask

to make a request of

solicited him to join the team

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ask
• invite
• request
• beg
• hit (up)
• require
• call on
• petition
• invoke
• beseech
• pray
• appeal (to)
• conjure
• implore
• plead (to)
• entreat
• importune
• supplicate
• enjoin
• demand
• exact
• press

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• require
• compel
• force
• coerce
• constrain
• oblige

4

as in to beg

to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner

solicit the President for relief funds

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beg
• petition
• ask
• implore
• beseech
• pray
• entreat
• conjure
• appeal (to)
• require
• plead (to)
• importune
• supplicate
• besiege
• request
• call on
• compel
• invoke
• impetrate
• coerce
• desire
• insist
• cadge
• force
• demand
• mooch
• sponge
• bludge
• claim
• command

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suggest
• imply
• please
• hint
• intimate
• satisfy
• oblige
• gratify
• appease
• placate
• conciliate
• pacify
• content
• comfort
• quiet
• mollify
• console

5

as in to tempt

to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage

how many men have been solicited into purchasing bogus aids for "male enhancement" by shameless appeals to their vanity?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tempt
• persuade
• seduce
• entice
• lure
• betray
• beguile
• bait
• lead on
• allure
• decoy
• fascinate
• rope (in)
• entrap
• trap
• enchant
• draw in
• inveigle
• ensnare
• snow
• mesh
• captivate
• catch
• magnetize
• enmesh
• snare
• bewitch
• charm
• tangle
• wile

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• warn
• alert
• ward (off)
• caution
• drive (away or off)
• forewarn
• turn away
• repulse

Synonym Chooser

How is the word solicit distinct from other similar verbs?

The words ask and request are common synonyms of solicit. While all three words mean "to seek to obtain by making one's wants known," solicit suggests a calling attention to one's wants or desires by public announcement or advertisement.

a letter soliciting information

When is ask a more appropriate choice than solicit?

The words ask and solicit can be used in similar contexts, but ask implies no more than the statement of the desire.

ask a favor of a friend

Where would request be a reasonable alternative to solicit?

The words request and solicit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, request implies greater formality and courtesy.

requests the pleasure of your company

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of solicit

There were no vendors hawking bootleg royal-wedding merch, no screaming lines of fans, not even that many impromptu sing-alongs (some were solicited by journalists looking for content). — Zach Schiffman, Curbed, 6 July 2026

The Democrats alleged Krach, the Freedom 250 CEO, traveled in January to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to personally solicit foreign government officials and business leaders for money to help fund America’s birthday celebrations. — ABC News, 2 July 2026

The report accuses the group of funding its programming through opaque and questionable avenues, including soliciting foreign funds, misleading donors and selling access to the president. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 2 July 2026

After a handful of developers tried and failed to fill the property, the Unified Government solicited project proposals to build something new on it. — Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026