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Importunate: meaning, definitions and examples

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importunate

 

[ ɪmˈpɔːr.tʃə.nət ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

persistent request

Importunate refers to someone who is overly persistent or insistent, often in a way that's annoying or intrusive. It describes a person who doesn't take no for an answer and continues to plead or request something despite being rebuffed.

Synonyms

insistent, persistent, pressing, tenacious

Examples of usage

  • The importunate begging of the street performers drew a crowd.
  • She received importunate emails asking for donations every week.
  • His importunate questions made everyone feel uncomfortable.
  • The importunate salesman followed him around the store.

Translations

Translations of the word "importunate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 importuno

🇮🇳 अवांछित

🇩🇪 aufdringlich

🇮🇩 mengganggu

🇺🇦 набридливий

🇵🇱 natarczywy

🇯🇵 迷惑な

🇫🇷 importun

🇪🇸 importuno

🇹🇷 rahatsız edici

🇰🇷 성가신

🇸🇦 مزعج

🇨🇿 vtíravý

🇸🇰 dotieravý

🇨🇳 强求的

🇸🇮 vsiljiv

🇮🇸 áreiðanlegur

🇰🇿 құйтырқы

🇬🇪 დაუნდობელი

🇦🇿 təzyiq edən

🇲🇽 importuno

Word origin

The word 'importunate' originates from the Latin word 'importunus', which means 'unfitting' or 'inopportune'. This Latin term is composed of 'in-', indicating negation, and 'portunus', which translates to 'fitting' or 'suitable'. The transition from Latin to English occurred in the late Middle Ages when Latin terms began to be adopted into English vocabulary to enrich the language. The term became prevalent in the 16th century as English speakers began to express the idea of someone being unreasonably persistent or demanding in their requests. Over time, it took on a distinctly negative connotation, often used to describe behaviors that are bothersome or unwelcome. Its use in literature and everyday language has been consistent, reflecting societal attitudes toward assertiveness and persistence.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,177, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.