suppliant
One who pleads
A suppliant is someone who asks humbly and earnestly, usually from a position of weakness or need.
The word carries a sense of pleading or begging—a suppliant doesn't demand but requests, often with deference: The suppliants knelt before the king.
As an adjective, it describes the manner of such asking: a suppliant tone, suppliant gestures.
The word appears more often in literary or formal contexts than everyday speech.
Given to worship
- imploringUrgently requesting with emotion
- entreatyEarnest, urgent request
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
- ferventIntensely and sincerely felt
earnest · plea · invocation · adjuration · importunate · prostrate · kneeling · outstretched
Urgent heartfelt request
- beggingEarnest desperate requesting
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- imploringUrgently requesting with emotion
- cravingPowerful urge to have
importunity · beseeching · desperate · urgent · dire · pressing · frantic · anguished
One asserting entitlement
- appellantOne who appeals
- seekerOne who looks
- aspirantOne seeking advancement
- refugeePerson fleeing danger abroad
applicant · suitor · requester · pleader · beggar · mendicant · alms-seeker · solicitor
Unable to act independently
- defenselessWithout means to resist
- powerlessLacking strength or authority
- dependentRequiring outside support
- exposedOut in open
weak · fragile · unprotected · endangered · precarious · susceptible · imperiled · needy
Humbly unassertive
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
- deferentialShowing humble submission
- modestLacking in pretension
- unassumingNot making claims
self-effacing · lowly · servile · obedient · docile · biddable · compliant · contrite
prayerful
Given to worship
- imploringUrgently requesting with emotion
- entreatyEarnest, urgent request
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
fervent · earnest · plea · invocation · adjuration · importunate · prostrate · kneeling · outstretched · tearful
pleading
Urgent heartfelt request
- beggingEarnest desperate requesting
- grovelingDemeaning self-abasement before another
- imploringUrgently requesting with emotion
craving · importunity · beseeching · desperate · urgent · dire · pressing · frantic · anguished · woeful
claimant
One asserting entitlement
refugee · applicant · suitor · requester · pleader · beggar · mendicant · alms-seeker · solicitor · intercessor
helpless
Unable to act independently
- defenselessWithout means to resist
- powerlessLacking strength or authority
- dependentRequiring outside support
exposed · weak · fragile · unprotected · endangered · precarious · susceptible · imperiled · needy · destitute
meek
Humbly unassertive
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
- deferentialShowing humble submission
- modestLacking in pretension
unassuming · self-effacing · lowly · servile · obedient · docile · biddable · compliant · contrite · penitent
- Greek OraclesDelphi, oracle of Delphi, oracles, prophecies, seer
- mendicantsFranciscan, Dominican, Carmelite, Augustinian, friar
suppliantbenefactor
One who gives aid
giver · grantor · patron · bestower · beneficent