importunate

adjective

im-ˈpȯr-chə-nət How to pronounce importunate (audio)
Definition of importunatenext
as in urgent
needing immediate attention the demands of the chairmanship were becoming too importunate for me to continue without an assistant

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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 importunate Dragonfly males are so importunate that some females play dead to avoid their advances. — Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for importunate
  1. urgent
  2. acute
Adjective
  • This is becoming more urgent, Azam says, as these disasters become more frequent, but experts lack data to better identify the areas that are most at risk of future disasters like this.
    — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Amol Rajan, the BBC Radio 4 Today show presenter, has called for urgent action to save the UK national broadcaster from an existential emergency.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of urgent
Adjective
  • Since his father was a British navy chaplain, his family moved regularly, and with that came an acute sense of place.
    — Irene Borger, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Their partnership also sharpened her already acute sense of humor.
    — Shima Oliaee, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of acute

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imports
importunate
importune
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Cite this Entry

“Importunate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/importunate. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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