pleading 1 of 3

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

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

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
That pleading was roundly denied by the judge; last summer, the case proceeded to discovery. Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2025 Courts generally view these reports with skepticism but will allow allegations relying on the reports to move past the pleading stage under certain circumstances. Tim Reynolds, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
Cronin spent much of the past month pleading with his team to play with greater intensity and consistency. Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026 Now just shy of turning 18, Vaughn was sentenced to 25 years in state prison on Monday morning after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pleading
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleading
Adjective
  • The Sagrada Família was founded as an expiatory church, meaning that it would be financed by prayerful donations from people atoning for their sins.
    D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Pärt’s formulas, born out of long, prayerful periods with sacred texts, offer beauty in the warmth and friction of relationships: melody and tintinnabuli, word and the limits of language, sounds and silence.
    Jeffers Engelhardt, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But her plea never made it to TikTok.
    Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Submitted The post with Tabron's desperate plea for someone brave with a 4-wheel drive vehicle was shared dozens of times.
    Erica Mokay, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The truck driver was convicted of vehicular manslaughter, but the Cobles’ wrongful-death lawsuit against Caltrans, arguing that faulty freeway design led to the backup their car was in when the big rig came around the bend, was lost in a jury trial.
    Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Prominent leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention have come to the church's defense, arguing that compassion for migrant families affected by the crackdown cannot justify violating a sacred space during worship.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • There is a way that this could have been done better, utilizing visual storytelling, establishing atmosphere and a sense of place that could have given a sense of the music, its large appeal and the circumstances that shaped it, while also allowing JayDee to shine in his own way.
    Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
  • In Telluride, demand is still led by part-time residents, particularly at the luxury level, but the way those homes are being used is evolving as Telluride’s appeal draws residents to extend their time.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals threw out the conviction, reasoning that while Abernethy broke NCAA rules, his conduct didn’t constitute a crime.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Jan. 2026
  • This teaches Claude to handle similar requests in real time, not by rigidly blocking but by reasoning through the conflict.
    Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • At Auschwitz, located in an area of southern Poland which was under German occupation during World War II, Polish President Karol Nawrocki joined survivors for a remembrance ceremony that ended with Jewish and Christian clergy reciting prayers.
    Vanessa Gera, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The familiar rhythms of Jewish mourning—burial, shivah, prayer, and remembrance—help families begin the healing process with structure, support, and community.
    Rabbi Moishe Kievman, Sun Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Head coach Mike Vrabel’s team is balanced, explosive and led by quarterback Drake Maye, a 2024 NFL Draft classmate of Nix’s who authored an MVP-contending season.
    Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Each of them went to court, contending that their respective state laws violate the equal protection clause of the Constitution and federal statutes barring discrimination against women in sports.
    Gwen Faulkenberry, Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The petition, which was granted by a federal judge, cites reports alleging that guards at the facility choked and asphyxiated Campos.
    Laura Romero, ABC News, 23 Jan. 2026
  • According to an emergency petition filed in federal court, a district judge granted an emergency injunction ordering Chloe’s release into the custody of her lawyer.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pleading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleading. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

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