importunate means persistent or pressing, often annoyingly so. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 75 out of 100.
importunate is pronounced /ɪmˈpɔːtjʊnət/.
Why “importunate” is a great word
IMPORTUNATE — [Adjective] Troublesomely persistent in making demands. From Latin importūnus ("inconvenient, troublesome, unfit") + the English adjectival suffix -ate, first attested in 1477 in Middle English. Unlike "persistent," which neutrally denotes continuance, or "urgent," which can claim a pressing need, importunate carries the sour taint of a self-interested plea that has overstayed its welcome. It is the relentless tug on a sleeve, the unheeded buzz at a door after dark, and the unwavering, hungry gaze of a stray dog that knows your path—the quiet tyranny of a need that insists it be made your own.
adj
- Persistent or pressing, often annoyingly so.“Nick was on the point of declaring again that he was a humbug, so vivid was his inner sense of what he thought of his factitious public utterances, which had the cursed property of creating dreadful responsibilities and importunate credulities for him.”
- Given to importunate demands, greedily or thoughtlessly demanding.“[...] if you reprimand or punish them, be assured every one will consider you importunate as well as ridiculous.”
noun
- An importuner.“This will put an Answer into the Kings mouth, against all importunates.”
verb
- To importune, or to obtain by importunity.“All which notwithstanding, I obtained licence at length to make my supplication to the noble Parliament house; but I could find no messengers till Sir John Seton went, whom I importunated daily to obtain me favor for my return home again.”