beseech

verb

bi-ˈsēch How to pronounce beseech (audio)
Definition of beseechnext
as in to beg
to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner parishioners ardently beseeched the local bishop not to close their beloved church

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word beseech distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of beseech are adjure, beg, entreat, implore, importune, and supplicate. While all these words mean "to ask urgently," beseech and implore imply a deeply felt anxiety.

I beseech you to have mercy
implored her not to leave him

In what contexts can adjure take the place of beseech?

While in some cases nearly identical to beseech, adjure implies advising as well as pleading.

we were adjured to tell the truth

When is beg a more appropriate choice than beseech?

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

they begged for help

When is it sensible to use entreat instead of beseech?

The meanings of entreat and beseech largely overlap; however, entreat implies an effort to persuade or to overcome resistance.

entreated me to join them

When could importune be used to replace beseech?

Although the words importune and beseech have much in common, importune suggests an annoying persistence in trying to break down resistance to a request.

importuning viewers for contributions

Where would supplicate be a reasonable alternative to beseech?

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

with bowed heads they supplicated their Lord

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 beseech Thomas is a newlywed whose wife, Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp), beseeches him not to go, but the ambitious young man nonetheless heads off to the Carpathians, leaving her in the care of his friend Harding (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024 Dylan has his guitar, naturally, and Seeger beseeches him to play something for Guthrie. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 23 Dec. 2024 Eyes abound, actually, staring out from the stars and stripes as if beseeching its audience to bear witness to this unprecedented union. —Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019 Travelers took to social media to complain about the disruption and beseech the airlines for help. —Emma Bubola, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beseech
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beseech
  1. beg
  2. petition
Verb
  • Until her death at age 25, Emily would beg to be taken to the carousel at the mall near her home in Columbia, Maryland.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 26 May 2025
  • But coming from the multiracial, multiethnic U.S., his background begged for further description.
    — Rebecca R. Bibbs, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
Definition of beg
Verb
  • If a lot goes unused for seventy-five years, the cemetery can petition to reclaim it.
    — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
  • After one of the last attempts before Dawn’s death, Erin petitioned the court to request that her mother be provided with psychiatric care.
    — Sam Gillette, People.com, 29 May 2025
Definition of petition

Browse Nearby Words

berths
beseech
beseeched
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beseech.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beseech. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of beseech for Spanish Speakers

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