supplicant

1 of 2

noun

sup·pli·cant ˈsə-pli-kənt

Synonyms of supplicant

: one who supplicates

supplicant

2 of 2

Examples of supplicant in a Sentence

Noun the new governor soon had to deal with a long line of supplicants asking for jobs and other political favors Adjective hated having to go before his boss like a supplicant beggar whenever he needed some time off to attend to personal matters

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Noun

Being a gent or a supplicant wasn’t the same as being a fool, though. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 June 2026 One of its most common tools is to write a book, or have a book written, to introduce the presidential supplicant to voters. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2026

Adjective

The prayer quickly ends, and another supplicant hands over his passport. — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 19 May 2025 Many officers presumed that the only way to advance up the ranks, or avoid a hazing, or even keep their jobs, was to be supplicant to the brass. — Marc J. Dunkelman, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for supplicant

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin supplicant-, supplicans "petitioner," noun derivative from Latin supplicant-, supplicans, present participle of supplicāre "to seek the goodwill (of a person wronged) with peace offerings, supplicate"

Adjective

borrowed from Latin supplicant-, supplicans, present participle of supplicāre "to seek the goodwill (of a person wronged) with peace offerings, supplicate"

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of supplicant was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

suppliant

supplicant

supplicat

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Supplicant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supplicant. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

supplicant

noun

sup·pli·cant

ˈsəp-li-kənt

: one who asks earnestly

supplicant adjective

supplicantly adverb

supplicant

noun

adjective

Synonyms of supplicant

Examples of supplicant in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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