as in urging
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
the speaker exhorted the graduating students to go forth and try to make a difference in the world
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Recent Examples of exhorting
His firm, Strategy, has a business based around acquiring Bitcoin, with Saylor using his outsize social media presence to post memes exhorting others to do the same.
—
Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
After a steal and dunk by Reed put UConn back up by six, Huskies coach Dan Hurley began waving his arms wildly at the fans behind his bench, exhorting them to be louder.
—CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Trump has spent years dehumanizing immigrants, exhorting law enforcement to treat suspects more roughly, and attacking the rule of law.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
In its opening scene, from George Harrison’s 1971 Concert for Bangladesh, Preston starts singing the warmly exhorting gospel song that gives the film its name.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2024
San Diego Clippers coach Paul Hewitt sometimes resembles a third-base coach, waving his arms forward rapidly, exhorting his players to race the ball up the floor after a rebound or forced turnover.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2024
On an August day in 2011, a man stood outside City Hall in Newark, New Jersey, exhorting a crowd through a wireless microphone.
—Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
After a steal and dunk by Reed put UConn back up by six, Huskies coach Dan Hurley began waving his arms wildly at the fans behind his bench, exhorting them to be louder.
—CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Trump has spent years dehumanizing immigrants, exhorting law enforcement to treat suspects more roughly, and attacking the rule of law.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
In its opening scene, from George Harrison’s 1971 Concert for Bangladesh, Preston starts singing the warmly exhorting gospel song that gives the film its name.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2024
San Diego Clippers coach Paul Hewitt sometimes resembles a third-base coach, waving his arms forward rapidly, exhorting his players to race the ball up the floor after a rebound or forced turnover.
—Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2024
On an August day in 2011, a man stood outside City Hall in Newark, New Jersey, exhorting a crowd through a wireless microphone.
—Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exhorting
Verb
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Authorities are asking the public for help in identifying the second gunman, urging anyone with information to come forward.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
11 June 2026
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On a recent episode, Amanda, Ciara and West all go out to lunch and Amanda is almost urging Ciara and West on.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Earlier this month, the Orlando City Council advanced a proposal to suspend portions of the district’s historic review process for three years in hopes of encouraging investment and redevelopment.—
Sarah M. Boye,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2026
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Under them, chatbots must not be able to interact with someone under 18, unless it is programmed against encouraging self-destructive behavior and provides parents with tools to manage the child’s use.—
Marc Levy,
Fortune,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exhorting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exhorting. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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