Synonyms of importune

importune 1 of 2

verb

as in to beg

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

she was always importuning people for favors, even when she had no right to ask

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

importune

2 of 2

adjective

as in importunate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• importunate
• displeasing
• bothersome
• vexatious
• burdensome
• aggravating
• vexing
• annoying
• pestiferous
• irksome
• exasperating
• plaguy
• discomforting
• maddening
• frustrating
• disquieting
• nettlesome
• pestilential
• irritating
• abrasive
• pesky
• carking
• distressing
• galling
• inconveniencing
• rankling
• nettling
• troublesome
• plaguey
• infuriating
• pesty
• rebarbative
• peeving
• pestilent
• riling
• trying
• chafing
• disturbing
• upsetting
• tiresome
• offensive
• troubling
• painful
• angering
• mischievous
• enraging
• distractive
• stressful
• worrisome
• bratty
• brattish
• biting
• spiny
• jarring
• thorny
• grating
• jangling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• delightful
• pleasing

Synonym Chooser

How is the word importune distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of importune are adjure, beg, beseech, entreat, implore, and supplicate. While all these words mean "to ask urgently," importune suggests an annoying persistence in trying to break down resistance to a request.

importuning viewers for contributions

When would adjure be a good substitute for importune?

Although the words adjure and importune have much in common, adjure implies advising as well as pleading.

we were adjured to tell the truth

When could beg be used to replace importune?

The words beg and importune are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, beg suggests earnestness or insistence in the asking.

they begged for help

How are the words beseech and implore related as synonyms of importune?

Both beseech and implore imply a deeply felt anxiety.

I beseech you to have mercy

implored her not to leave him

When is entreat a more appropriate choice than importune?

While the synonyms entreat and importune are close in meaning, entreat implies an effort to persuade or to overcome resistance.

entreated me to join them

When can supplicate be used instead of importune?

In some situations, the words supplicate and importune are roughly equivalent. However, supplicate suggests a posture of humility.

with bowed heads they supplicated their Lord

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