BEGGING Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

begging 1 of 3

adjective

as in insistent

Related Words

Relevance

begging

2 of 3

noun

as in pleading

Related Words

begging

3 of 3

verb

present participle of beg

as in petitioning

to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner she begged her husband to give up extreme skiing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 begging

Adjective

Violators can be punished with fines up to $500 and three months in jail under one anti-begging law and with fines starting at up to $100 and 10 days in jail under a law against soliciting contributions from people in cars. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026

Noun

But this time, his begging sounds like more than an empty come-on. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026 Certainly plenty of people after Baudelaire have also navigated this conundrum, with (for the most part) less opium use and Freudian begging. — Literary Hub, 22 Dec. 2025 After a little begging and pleading, the parent could not say no, and the PetSmart trip turned into the family welcoming home a cat. — Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025 The world’s biggest deadbeat has passed the begging bowl again. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025 And a reminder that without the ability to strike, collective bargaining is just collective begging. — Tim Wright, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2025

Verb

Gianni Infantino went from immovable king of football to touring the world, begging people for support. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 In the wake of Curry’s death, the Who Done It crew are begging Paramount to trawl its vaults and release the cut. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026 Other approaches are scorched stretches of concrete begging to become soft, shaded connectors. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 This $6 high-neck tank is a layering staple (under a polka-dot cardigan, perhaps), while this chambray button-down is practically begging to be worn at the pumpkin patch. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 29 Aug. 2026 The series remains perpetually glum, refusing to project any light behind a conceit begging for a few laughs. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026 From large platters just begging to be filled with hors d’oeuvres to trays made for serving batch cocktails, our picks for the best platters are well-crafted and meant for regular (if not daily) use. — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026 This was in 1824, in London, and Shelley, twenty-seven, and two years the widow of Percy Bysshe Shelley, spent a season begging a mutual friend, the playwright and actor John Howard Payne, to set them up. — Eric Lach, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026 Finally, after years of begging from golf fans, the PGA Tour is introducing match play to its postseason beginning in 2028. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for begging

Adjective

But flatter work, especially photography and illusionistic painting, struggles to hold its position against the building’s insistent materiality.

— Katy Barkan, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
This was one aspect of Parton, the adventurer whose insistent self-respect would carry her beyond any limitations others tried to impose on her.

— Ann Powers, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of insistent

Noun

Less pleading and more of a warning, Beyoncé’s version of the beloved hit features different lyrics and an introduction that directly references the original track.

— Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
The narrator is vulnerable, pleading, totally at the mercy of the other woman.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of pleading

Verb

Oregon State’s players took the campaign a step further, petitioning state regulators for union representation and the right to bargain with their university.

— Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Last month, California Coastkeeper Alliance and other nonprofit groups tried to expand the clean water protections statewide by petitioning six other regional water boards.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

Definition of petitioning

Adjective

In his inaugural Jackson Hole speech as chairman, Warsh warned that persistent inflation may necessitate further monetary tightening.

— William Pesek, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Mehta increased his price target on FANG stock to $220 from $212 and reiterated a buy rating, citing the company's capital-efficient volume growth as oil prices remain high amid persistent supply disruption in the Middle East.

— TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of persistent

Noun

Under Ohio law, a postconviction petition must generally be filed within 365 days after the trial transcript is filed in the court of appeals.

— Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Shares for gambling operators DraftKings and FanDuel's parent company Flutter Entertainment, were both up by more than 5% after New Jersey filed its petition.

— Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of petition

Verb

Organizations often compete for the same experienced talent rather than asking who is creating the capability everyone wants to hire.

— Sheila Callaham, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Four baby goats from a North Carolina mobile petting zoo tested positive for rabies and were euthanized, and health officials are asking anyone who may have had contact with them to reach out for possible treatment.

— Dennis Romero, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of asking

Noun

The man who was shot was possibly under the influence, according to the person who reported the soliciting.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026
Truist is seeking compensatory damages, an injunction against further soliciting and hiring of its employees, and attorney fees.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 29 Jan. 2026

Definition of soliciting

Cite this Entry

Style

“Begging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/begging. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of begging

adjective

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

apiary

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes