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

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 The title was the name of a red-haired, green-eyed young fan Parton met signing autographs, and the story of a woman begging a rival to leave her man alone. — Rj Smith, Los Angeles Times, 25 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 But visual clutter isn’t always about having too much stuff; sometimes there are too many things begging to be the center of attention, and some reorganizing is in order. — Amanda Sims, Architectural Digest, 21 Aug. 2026 An operator answers a call from a hysterical woman begging for help. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026 By summer, buds cover the plant and, soon, soft, layered blossoms are begging you to cut them for the perfect bouquet. — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2026 The lush gardens and private office space provide plenty of scenic options for where to spend your alone time, while the covered patio is practically begging for a dinner party with the entire crew. — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026 Jurors heard a harrowing voicemail left by Johnson begging one of her friends for help as Williams butchered her, stabbing her five times in the chest and four times in her back. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for begging

Adjective

But the Lower Basin has remained insistent on the Upper Basin states’ sharing in additional conservation measures.

— Sarah Porter, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026
But by the time Isla was 15 months, Jacalyn had grown more insistent.

— Brad Quick, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of insistent

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

Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni settlement agreement revealed Liman ultimately dismissed the suit and granted Lively's petition to have Baldoni foot the bill for attorneys costs and fees accrued during the proceedings.

— Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Keller school board candidate Barbara Brewer organized a petition drive against the project.

— Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 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

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“Begging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/begging. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of begging

adjective

noun

verb

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