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
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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
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
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
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In the old days beggars were drawn and quartered in that square.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
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In Havana, beggars are ubiquitous.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The petitioners argued that prosecutors have the ability to open investigations and, further, have an obligation to investigate law enforcement for alleged misconduct.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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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
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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
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That clarification will take the form of a deposition, which is expected to take place in front of British solicitors in December or early 2026.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
23 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Supplicants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/supplicants. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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