supplicate

verb

sup·​pli·​cate ˈsə-plə-ˌkāt How to pronounce supplicate (audio)
supplicated; supplicating
Synonyms of supplicatenext

intransitive verb

: to make a humble entreaty
especially : to pray to God

transitive verb

1
: to ask humbly and earnestly of
2
: to ask for earnestly and humbly
supplication
ˌsə-plə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce supplicate (audio)
noun

Synonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for supplicate

beg, entreat, beseech, implore, supplicate, adjure, importune mean to ask urgently.

beg suggests earnestness or insistence in the asking.

they begged for help

entreat implies an effort to persuade or to overcome resistance.

entreated me to join them

beseech and implore imply a deeply felt anxiety.

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

supplicate suggests a posture of humility.

with bowed heads they supplicated their Lord

adjure implies advising as well as pleading.

we were adjured to tell the truth

importune suggests an annoying persistence in trying to break down resistance to a request.

importuning viewers for contributions

Examples of supplicate in a Sentence

the minister reminded his flock that God is a being to be obeyed and worshipped always and not just someone to be supplicated in times of trouble
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The windows do away with the plaintive or supplicating figures more common to Christian stained glass. — Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2023 In short, the PCBE happily rubber-stamped the backwards and anti-science decrees of Bush and Cheney in an effort to supplicate the deranged Christian base of the Republican party. — Kyle Munkittrick, Discover Magazine, 22 Feb. 2011

Word History

Etymology

Middle English supplicaten "to make a request," borrowed from Latin supplicātus, past participle of supplicāre "to seek the goodwill (of a person wronged) with peace offerings, sue for forgiveness, beg humbly," derivative of supplic-, supplex "making humble entreaty, suppliant" — more at supple entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of supplicate was in the 15th century

Rhymes for supplicate

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Browse Nearby Words

supplicat
supplicate
supplicatingly
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Cite this Entry

“Supplicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supplicate. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

supplicate

verb
sup·​pli·​cate ˈsəp-lə-ˌkāt How to pronounce supplicate (audio)
supplicated; supplicating
1
: to make a humble appeal
especially : to pray to God
2
: to ask earnestly and humbly
supplication
ˌsəp-lə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce supplicate (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on supplicate

Nglish: Translation of supplicate for Spanish Speakers

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