as in suppliants
one who asks earnestly for a favor or gift
the new governor soon had to deal with a long line of supplicants asking for jobs and other political favors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of supplicants
More than anything, in the halo headpieces that are her signature accessory, Mary recalls a medieval religious icon, the Holy Virgin as fictional diva, touching down on stages in major markets to be adored by seas of light-waving supplicants.
—
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
When leaders approach partnerships from that frame—not as supplicants but as operators of critical systems—the conversation changes.
—Richard Neal, Forbes.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Carney has transformed into a de facto spokesman for those middle powers, none of which want to turn into supplicants or get caught with their pants down between two superpowers, such as the United States and China, that are increasingly using coercion as a method of statecraft.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Even Putin, not known for sparing the blushes of supplicants, seems embarrassed on Erdogan’s behalf.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 22 Dec. 2025
At best, the rulers who met in Doha on Monday act as supplicants, relying on the whims of a unpredictable US president to intercede with Israel’s leader.
—Ben Wedeman, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Thirsty attendees jostled through the rooms, foisting their shoulders through a sea of supplicants, holding out their glasses for a few precious drops of carbonic Trousseau, or Xarel-lo pet-nat, or ramato Pinot Gris, or whole-cluster Marquette.
—Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Mar. 2018
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
When leaders approach partnerships from that frame—not as supplicants but as operators of critical systems—the conversation changes.
—Richard Neal, Forbes.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Carney has transformed into a de facto spokesman for those middle powers, none of which want to turn into supplicants or get caught with their pants down between two superpowers, such as the United States and China, that are increasingly using coercion as a method of statecraft.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
Even Putin, not known for sparing the blushes of supplicants, seems embarrassed on Erdogan’s behalf.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 22 Dec. 2025
At best, the rulers who met in Doha on Monday act as supplicants, relying on the whims of a unpredictable US president to intercede with Israel’s leader.
—Ben Wedeman, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Thirsty attendees jostled through the rooms, foisting their shoulders through a sea of supplicants, holding out their glasses for a few precious drops of carbonic Trousseau, or Xarel-lo pet-nat, or ramato Pinot Gris, or whole-cluster Marquette.
—Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for supplicants
Noun
-
Gobert was chief among the beggars imploring his teammates for a shred of consistency on that end of the floor.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
27 Apr. 2026
-
In the old days beggars were drawn and quartered in that square.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Hobart City attorney Heather McCarthy said the petitioners will need to provide the city with an approval letter from NIPSCO since a NIPSCO line that bisects the property is owned by that utility.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
Going back to January 2021, local judges have sided with petitioners in only 6% of cases.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But the long-running saga involving the scion of a prominent and powerful family of local lawyers and solicitors took an unexpected turn this week when the South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the murder convictions.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
-
Three generations served as solicitors on the state’s 14th Circuit, while maintaining a lucrative private law practice in Hampton County.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
23 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Supplicants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/supplicants. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
