entreaty

noun

en·​treaty in-ˈtrē-tē How to pronounce entreaty (audio)
en-
plural entreaties
: an act of entreating : plea

Examples of entreaty in a Sentence

our entreaties to give us another few minutes to answer the test questions fell on deaf ears
Recent Examples on the Web But despite months of White House entreaties, Congress has yet to pass President Biden’s request for $60 billion in additional security aid, part of a larger package that would also include assistance to Israel for its war in the Gaza Strip. Missy Ryan, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024 Prosecutors allege that in response to the entreaties, Slater provided sensitive information including details that were classified as secret by the U.S. intelligence community. Robert Legare, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2024 The popular former Republican governor of Maryland had rebuffed years of entreaties and lobbying from a parade of powerful Republicans. Shane Goldmacher, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 But the whole sequence is impressively ugly, and Danvers’ response — putting Leah in a jail cell and refusing entreaties by the other cops to stop being so tough on the kid — is even uglier. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2024 Still, Musk’s entreaties come at a time when Delaware has issued several rulings that have sent a chill into one of its core constituencies: boards of directors. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 14 Feb. 2024 Nearing two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, authorities in Kyiv maintain their long-standing entreaty to partners in the West: Deliver us more arms, more aid, more political commitments. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 29 Jan. 2024 Christie has been an immovable object, resisting all entreaties with characteristic obstinacy and swearing to remain in the race until New Hampshire. Varad Mehta, Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2023 To date, the group has resisted entreaties from Hamas to fully enter the war. Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 3 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'entreaty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of entreaty was circa 1530

Dictionary Entries Near entreaty

Cite this Entry

“Entreaty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entreaty. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

entreaty

noun
en·​treaty in-ˈtrēt-ē How to pronounce entreaty (audio)
plural entreaties
: earnest request : appeal, plea

More from Merriam-Webster on entreaty

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