importunity

noun

ˌim-pər-ˈtü-nə-tē How to pronounce importunity (audio)
Definition of importunitynext
1
as in demand
something that someone insists upon having overwhelmed by the often conflicting importunities of pressure groups

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in harassment
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another resented the importunity of those annoying telemarketers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 importunity Our own house has turned into a kind of office, a site of fax and phone, of administration and importunity. — Seamus Heaney, Harper's Magazine, 2 June 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for importunity
  1. demand
  2. harassment
  3. request
  4. requirement
Noun
  • The demand for reliable information, effective communication, meaningful employment and technology that enables full participation in daily life will not.
    — Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Earlier this week, as the mostly Gen-Z protesters tried the bring their demands to the parliament building at the heart of the world’s biggest democracy, they were met with tear gas and police violence, struck with sticks and batons.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of demand
Noun
  • The complaint included declarations from eight other women who also described the harassment and management’s response, and estimated that the class complaint would include least 182 women.
    — Alexandra Olson, Fortune, 29 July 2026
  • The House’s post-#MeToo rule changes in 2018 clarified that members cannot pursue relationships with their own staff and created a new process for adjudicating harassment claims.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of harassment
Noun
  • The public information request process dragged on for several months.
    — Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The district did not immediately respond to The Bee’s request for comment.
    — Chaewon Chung Updated July 31, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of request
Noun
  • There’s a new AI graduation requirement at Purdue University.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Over time, the models will gracefully absorb more complex requirements.
    — Michael Wee, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of requirement

Browse Nearby Words

importunities
importunity
impose
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Importunity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/importunity. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All