begging letter
Written appeal mailed
A begging letter is a written appeal for money or help, typically from a stranger claiming hardship.
The term usually carries a dismissive or skeptical tone, suggesting the request is manipulative or one of many mass-produced appeals: The charity's mailbox overflowed with begging letters.
British usage; Americans more often say panhandling letter or simply solicitation.
Formal review request
- petitionFormal written appeal
- requestFormal act of seeking
- pleaFormal request or defense
- entreatyEarnest, urgent request
supplication · solicitation · importunity · fundraising · panhandling · canvassing · dunning
Extreme poverty, total want
- destitutionExtreme poverty, lacking necessities
- penuryExtreme lack of money
- impoverishmentState of extreme deprivation
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
want · neediness · privation · homelessness · joblessness · financial ruin · debt · insolvency
Needing immediate attention
- direExtremely serious or urgent
- desperateDriven by urgent need
- distressSevere anxiety or suffering
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
crisis · pleading · imploring · heartrending · pitiful · pathetic · woeful · hard-luck story
Inducing remorse deliberately
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- embellishmentDecorative addition or exaggeration
- conArgument against
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
fraud · swindle · grift · hustle · deception · fabrication · false pretenses · emotional manipulation
appeal
Formal review request
entreaty · supplication · solicitation · importunity · fundraising · panhandling · canvassing · dunning
indigence
Extreme poverty, total want
- destitutionExtreme poverty, lacking necessities
- penuryExtreme lack of money
- impoverishmentState of extreme deprivation
hardship · want · neediness · privation · homelessness · joblessness · financial ruin · debt · insolvency · struggling
urgent
Needing immediate attention
hardship · crisis · pleading · imploring · heartrending · pitiful · pathetic · woeful · hard-luck story · sob story
guilt-tripping
Inducing remorse deliberately
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- embellishmentDecorative addition or exaggeration
- conArgument against
scam · fraud · swindle · grift · hustle · deception · fabrication · false pretenses · emotional manipulation · crocodile tears