as in to argue
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?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plead
San Diego opened scoring in the third minute, when the Wave — playing 11-on-10 with Stars standout Mallory Swanson on the ground and pleading for a penalty call — pounced.
—
Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
Maduro, a socialist aligned with Havana, pleaded not guilty.
—Phil Stewart, USA Today, 30 May 2026
Terry Young and Dominic Miller, initially charged with second-degree murder, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon and received two-year sentences that included time served.
—Ben Wheeler
may 30, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026
The Dutchman pleaded guilty to the murder charges, claiming temporary insanity.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for plead
Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
Maduro, a socialist aligned with Havana, pleaded not guilty.
—Phil Stewart, USA Today, 30 May 2026
Terry Young and Dominic Miller, initially charged with second-degree murder, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon and received two-year sentences that included time served.
—Ben Wheeler
may 30, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026
The Dutchman pleaded guilty to the murder charges, claiming temporary insanity.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for plead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plead
Verb
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Defense attorneys, seated in a long row before Maguire while their clients sat in jail uniforms in the courtroom’s jury box, called the DA’s motion unnecessary, arguing any undue pretrial publicity began with prosecutors’ own news conference at the beginning of their criminal case.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
1 June 2026
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The decision comes after months of public opposition from customers who argued their bills were already among the highest in the state and who urged regulators to reject the increases altogether.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors argue the order is needed to protect the jury pool, while defense attorneys contend the request is unsupported and unnecessary.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
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On Monday, two contending teams made blockbuster trades in efforts to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl 61.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Verb
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The judge reasoned that there remain factual disputes for jurors to weigh.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
2 June 2026
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Most operators have already embedded machine learning into parts of their organizations; many are actively piloting generative AI; and a growing number are now exploring agentic systems, or AI architectures capable of reasoning across tasks and interacting with multiple data sources.—
Hakan Ekmen,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Instead, members of the Cabinet referred to the bill as the Working Family Tax Cuts, a clear indication that the administration is tacitly working to convince the public that the White House is attempting to alleviate financial struggles and improve the economy.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
30 May 2026
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The orangutan care specialists spent months preparing Hesty to have the baby, using positive reinforcement to convince her to cooperate with testing and other needs.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
Verb
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While many people online insisted the loft should be used as a bedroom, by simply placing a mattress on the floor, Giangreco quickly ruled that out for practical reasons that mattered far more to her than aesthetics.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
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Yet for an artist who spent a lifetime insisting that viewers become active participants rather than passive spectators, the exhibition arrives not simply as a memorial, but as a reminder of how much Le Parc influenced contemporary art.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Borderless identity also introduces geopolitical complexity where nation-states increasingly assert digital sovereignty.—
Morey Haber,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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The language push comes amid signs of a shift in some other Gulf countries, where younger locals are no longer looking so much to the West for validation and are increasingly comfortable asserting their identity in their own language.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plead. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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