plead

verb

ˈplēd How to pronounce plead (audio)
Definition of pleadnext
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

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 plead Parties in Hamptons, Mexico Each pleaded to the judge for the minimum sentence at Tuesday’s hearing, which lasted all day. — Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026 As part of a plea agreement, Samano pleaded guilty in late August to a lesser charge of second-degree murder in the death of December Htoo. — Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026 In 2024, Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's live-in assistant, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 Yourex originally faced five felony charges, but pleaded guilty in April to a misdemeanor count of knowingly registering a non-existent person to vote. — Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plead
  1. argue
  2. contend
  3. reason
  4. convince
  5. insist
  6. assert
Verb
  • The plaintiffs argued that Trump’s order exceeds his presidential authority and violates the Constitution, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the Privacy Act.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026
  • If El-Sayed loses, there will be a fight over blame between Democrats who spent tens of millions of dollars to support him and progressives who’ll argue that the party establishment can’t be trusted when leftist candidates win a nomination.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of argue
Verb
  • Trump has used the campaign trail to defend the Iran war, contending Tehran’s regime cannot have a nuclear weapon.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The students challenge that interpretation, contending that the university has not established that their individual statements constituted legally unprotected threats or caused the level of disruption required to justify punishment.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of contend
Verb
  • That clue and the cross on the coffin led the researchers to reason that the skeleton probably belonged to an important man, most likely the abbot of Westminster.
    — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Biggs reasoned Ford should have known her failure to include the student-athlete eligibility warning put her in the wrong.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of reason
Verb
  • The feud accelerated over the closing weeks of the campaign when Cenk Uygur’s Rebellion PAC began running the anti-Israel ad that would eventually convince Stevens to endorse Rogers.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Unity government Netanyahu could try to convince Eisenkot and his right-leaning allies to instead ally with the prime minister.
    — Tia Goldenberg, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of convince
Verb
  • The character cheerfully insisted that Scotch whisky, the Garden of Eden, and most other worthwhile inventions had originated in his homeland.
    — Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Although Nvidia has insisted the RTX 5090 hasn’t been discontinued, the product has been harder to find at retailers.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of insist
Verb
  • The others asserted vested development rights and reliance on county representations, leaving only the comprehensive plan challenge, which asserted that commissioners wrongly rejected housing that complied with the county’s growth policies.
    — Sarah Kinbar, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Then in June, the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel issued a memo asserting that Section 504 and the ADA don’t actually mandate that states support disabled people to remain integrated in their communities.
    — Rebekah Taussig, Time, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of assert

Phrases Containing plead

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pleaching
plead
pleaded
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Cite this Entry

“Plead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plead. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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