1
as in to survey
to go around and approach (people) with a request for opinions or information solicited several opinions about which job he should accept

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
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5
as in to tempt
to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage how many men have been solicited into purchasing bogus aids for "male enhancement" by shameless appeals to their vanity?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word solicit distinct from other similar verbs?

The words ask and request are common synonyms of solicit. While all three words mean "to seek to obtain by making one's wants known," solicit suggests a calling attention to one's wants or desires by public announcement or advertisement.

a letter soliciting information

When is ask a more appropriate choice than solicit?

The words ask and solicit can be used in similar contexts, but ask implies no more than the statement of the desire.

ask a favor of a friend

Where would request be a reasonable alternative to solicit?

The words request and solicit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, request implies greater formality and courtesy.

requests the pleasure of your company

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 solicit The search for a new superintendent has been undertaken by Ray and Associates, which solicited applications for the superintendent role until March 29 after developing a community profile based on a online survey and 11 stakeholder meetings. Graham P. Johnson, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025 Someone using a Telegram handle associated with him also solicited a cyberattack-for-hire service in 2022. Bluesky Social, 6 Feb. 2025 But when host Trevor Noah was not soliciting donations or delivering his trademark mid zingers, the Grammys leaned into its blockbuster music performances, increasingly the one true reason to tune in to the Grammys. Anna Gaca, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2025 Roberta wielded a broom to shoo away prostitutes who lingered in front of her home/studio and tried to solicit her customers. Richard J. Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for solicit 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for solicit
Verb
  • Monrovia surveyed homeowners and found that 28% wanted their garden to have a more natural look, up 6% from the previous year.
    Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2025
  • Driving the news: Wetten surveyed 2,000 single NFL fans in January, and found that 48% would forgo true love for a Super Bowl win.
    Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Workers at the five-year-old warehouse in the city of Garner will vote through Friday to join or reject the upstart Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment, or CAUSE, which seeks to push Amazon for higher wages, longer breaks and more scheduling flexibility, among other things.
    Greg Bensinger, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
  • David Johansen — the sole surviving founding member of the New York Dolls and a solo artist who also performs as the lounge singer Buster Poindexter — is suffering from stage four cancer, a brain tumor and a broken back, and is seeking financial assistance through the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.
    A.D. Amorosi, Variety, 10 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Despite that fact that artists don’t get paid for appearing in the Super Bowl Halftime show, it is considered a great honor to be asked.
    Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 9 Feb. 2025
  • After arriving in Islamabad in March 2023, Khalid, who also asked to be identified by first name only, completed the security clearance, medical tests, and interviews over the next year.
    Munir Ahmed, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The shooting led to outrage in the East Colfax community with friends and residents begging the Denver Police Department and city officials to do something about crime in the neighborhood.
    Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2025
  • For nearly a decade, District 79 officials waged a public relations battle, begging at the ballot box for taxpayers to approve a bond-issue referendum.
    Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The fifteen-cent cover price tempted almost no one.
    David Remnick, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
  • Why the Chiefs will win … I was tempted to write only the name of the Chiefs’ quarterback as my explanation.
    Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 9 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Moore was the only assistant coach on either Super Bowl team to interview with the Saints and thus the only candidate who, under league rules, could not be hired until after Sunday’s title game.
    Brett Martel, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Moore had interviewed for the Chargers' head coach position but was passed over for Harbaugh.
    Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Butler, 35, was at odds with the Heat over his contract and had requested a trade last month.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 6 Feb. 2025
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also requested the Defense Department inspector general conduct a review into Milley's conduct during the first Trump administration to determine whether Milley should be stripped of a star.
    Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Local business ads sometimes ran to 10 pages with 30 plus Christmas business ads not being unusual and 12- 14 bars invited you to visit them.
    Bob Roepke, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Modi has reportedly been invited to meet with Trump next week.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near solicit

Cite this Entry

“Solicit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solicit. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

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