What does "importunate" mean?
An importuner.
Importunate
/ɪmˈpɔːtjʊnət/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An importuner.
- Grammar: importunate is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: aggravating, annoying, anxious, ardent.
- Useful contrasts: considerate, nonintrusive, respectful.
- Usage evidence: Mary said that Tom was too importunate, or something along those lines.
How to use "importunate"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "importunate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "importunate" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "importunate" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "importunate" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "importunate" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "aggravating" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "importunate", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An importuner.
"This will put an Answer into the Kings mouth, against all importunates."
Verb
- 1 To importune, or to obtain by importunity. rare
"All which notwithstanding, I obtained licence at length to make my supplication to the noble Parliament house; but I could find no messengers till Sir John Seton went, whom I importunated daily to obtain me favor for my return home again."
Adjective
- 1 Persistent or pressing, often annoyingly so.
"Nick was on the point of declaring again that he was a humbug, so vivid was his inner sense of what he thought of his factitious public utterances, which had the cursed property of creating dreadful responsibilities and importunate credulities for him."
- 2 Given to importunate demands, greedily or thoughtlessly demanding.
Adjective
- 1 expressing persistent and earnest entreaty wordnet
- 2 persistent to the point of annoying wordnet
Example
"Mary said that Tom was too importunate, or something along those lines."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "importunate"?
Common synonyms include: aggravating, annoying, anxious, ardent, avid, bothering.
How do you use "importunate" in a sentence?
Mary said that Tom was too importunate, or something along those lines.
How do you pronounce "importunate"?
Pronounced /ɪmˈpɔːtjʊnət/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
First attested in 1477, in Middle english; from Latin importūnus + -ate (adjective-forming suffix), modelled on Middle French importuné. By surface analysis, importune + -ate. The noun was substantivized from the adjective, see -ate (noun-forming suffix).
Etymology 2
First attested in 1574; adapted borrowing of French importuner (“to bother, disturb”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).