importunate

/im'pɔ:tjunit/

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Word: Importunate

Definition:
The word "importunate" is an adjective that describes someone who is very persistent, especially in asking for something, in a way that can be annoying or urgent. It means they keep asking or begging for something, often without caring about how it might bother others.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "importunate" to describe a person or their actions when they are excessively demanding or insistent.
• It is often used in formal or literary contexts rather than in casual conversation.

Example Sentence:

• "The importunate job applicant continued to call the company every day, asking for updates on his application."

Advanced Usage:

• "The importunate requests for donations overwhelmed the charity's staff, who were already busy with their regular duties."
• In literature, you might encounter it in phrases like "importunate pleas," which emphasizes the urgency and persistence of someone's requests.

Word Variants:

• Importunity (noun): The quality of being importunate.
  • Example: "Her importunity for a raise finally paid off when she got promoted."
• Importunely (adverb): In an importunate manner.
  • Example: "He importunely asked for favors, making it difficult for his friends to say no."

Different Meanings:

• The primary meaning is about being persistently demanding. It does not have an entirely different meaning but can imply a sense of urgency that can be seen as either positive (determined) or negative (annoying).

Synonyms:

• Persistent
• Insistent
• Begging
• Urgent
• Troublesome

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "To press for something": This means to insist on getting something, similar to being importunate.

  • Example: "She pressed for a promotion until her manager finally agreed."

• There aren’t many specific idioms or phrasal verbs that use "importunate," but you can think of related phrases that describe similar behaviors, like "hounding someone" or "badgering someone."

Summary:

"Importunate" is a word that describes someone who is very persistent in asking for something, often to the point of being bothersome. It can be used in both formal writing and discussions about behavior that is overly demanding.

Academic

Adjective

1. expressing earnest entreaty
   • an importunate job applicant