pleading 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of pleadingnext
as in prayerful
asking humbly a pleading husband seeking forgiveness once again from his long-suffering wife

Synonyms & Similar Words

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pleading

2 of 3

noun

ˈplē-diŋ How to pronounce pleading (audio)
as in plea
an earnest request coldhearted tourists pointedly ignoring the pleadings of the city's many street urchins

Synonyms & Similar Words

pleading

3 of 3

verb

present participle of plead
as in arguing
to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration can I plead temporary insanity for having made that foolish decision?

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pleading
Noun
There was no pathetic pleading with the audience to come closer. — Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026 Since then, the case has remained in the pleading stage, where the county has challenged the sufficiency of the claims without answering them, and the child’s attorneys have revised their complaint three times. — Bay City News, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
Tapanes has been pleading for the state to do something to stop the speeding. — Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026 His criminal record includes pleading guilty in 2021 to felony possession with intent to sell Schedule II narcotics, which resulted in a prison sentence of two years and nine months, court documents say. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pleading
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleading
  1. prayerful
  2. plea
  3. arguing
  4. begging
  5. appeal
  6. reasoning
  7. prayer
  8. contending
Adjective
  • Tigua dancers of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo performed a prayerful ceremony traditional before a hunt.
    — Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 28 June 2026
  • That’s the prayerful explanation for the nonsense that spouted this week from the leaders of a football conference that hopes to grow up and be the Big Ten someday.
    — Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Definition of prayerful
Noun
  • Despite Montagliani’s plea, Infantino arrived in the Dominican Republic, a Caribbean island, on Friday and met with local politicians and Jose Deschamps, head of the country’s football association.
    — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Giampa, who was indicted in December 2023, ultimately accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to life in prison.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of plea
Verb
  • O’Leary, who owns multimillion-dollar homes in Florida, Massachusetts, and Toronto, has made the point to shop at Walmart on numerous occasions—long arguing that there’s no reason to pay more for everyday essentials when a cheaper option will do.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Nevada promptly sued, arguing the plan is untenable for Las Vegas.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of arguing
Adjective
  • Violators can be punished with fines up to $500 and three months in jail under one anti-begging law and with fines starting at up to $100 and 10 days in jail under a law against soliciting contributions from people in cars.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
Definition of begging
Noun
  • His screen appeal combines a mix of swagger and self-deprecating, and at times evokes (a taller) Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Can Kushner’s billions of dollars and unlimited access deliver the kind of magnetic appeal that began with the Showtime Lakers in 1979?
    — Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of appeal
Verb
  • Every prompt, retrieval, reasoning step and autonomous agent action consumes tokens that translate directly into cost.
    — Daniel Fallmann, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Other planning engines run scenarios sequentially, in cycles measured in hours, which is why their AI can only report on what has already been computed rather than reasoning live, KetteQ said.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of reasoning
Noun
  • The relentless state media campaign on the issue often cites prayer leaders who insist the hijab is part of Iranian cultural identity and that women should observe modesty.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Decked out in regalia featuring feathers, jingles, beads and colorful fabrics, these dancers from across Californian and North American tribal communities did prayer ceremonies in the Shingle Springs Rancheria’s open-air dance circle.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of prayer
Verb
  • Boston Bruins The Bruins have an average at best roster and farm system, and trying to win while rebuilding on the fly is something that usually backfires more often than leading to a contending team.
    — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Kiley turned the criticism around, contending that his willingness to work with both parties was a strength.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of contending

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Cite this Entry

“Pleading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleading. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pleading

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pleading

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