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
On April 7, Horner pleaded guilty to kidnapping and killing Athena.
—
Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
Drivers like Yusuf are now pleading for politicians' help.
—Frankie McLister, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Walsh pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography, but there was more to this case than a simple online bust, court records show.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2026
Danny Bruce Richards pleaded guilty on Tuesday, April 14, to criminal threats and threatening public officials, both felonies.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plead
Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
Drivers like Yusuf are now pleading for politicians' help.
—Frankie McLister, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Walsh pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography, but there was more to this case than a simple online bust, court records show.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2026
Danny Bruce Richards pleaded guilty on Tuesday, April 14, to criminal threats and threatening public officials, both felonies.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plead
Verb
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Democrats are demanding that Mills also be expelled, arguing similar conduct should have similar outcomes.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2026
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Arteta and his Arsenal squad have, of course, downplayed the noise around the club this season, arguing that the widespread mocking doesn’t impact the inner sanctum of the team.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The jury heard lawyers describe a fatal confrontation, with prosecutors saying the defendants attacked and killed Ascaridis, and defense attorneys contending that Ascaridis was the aggressor.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
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Both bodies contend that this gender lens is important for understanding the full scope of experiences and vulnerabilities not just of women and girls, but also LGBTQ+ individuals and men and boys during conflict.—
Jenna Norosky,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The company is working to improve safety and reasoning through benchmarks that guide how robots should behave in real-world scenarios.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
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Those are the people, Hall reasoned, who have the expendable income for the devices, which range in price from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But prosecutors might have a difficult time convincing a jury that the five defendants are guilty of murder, said Linda Parisi, a defense attorney based in Sacramento.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
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Aside from being a practical closet staple, the reviews really convinced me that this dress is a gem.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Yet to a man, those who endured last season and remained insist this has been better, even as the standings tell an all-too-familiar story.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
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Israeli forces have continued strikes on Hezbollah as Iran insists a broader ceasefire includes an end to Israeli strikes in Lebanon.—
Dalia Abdelwahab,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Some young men, eager to assert their Americanness, answered yes to both questions and volunteered for military service; members of the all-Japanese 442nd Regimental Combat Team quickly became war heroes.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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Rather than opening the Strait of Hormuz, the critical commercial waterway that before the war carried 20% of the world’s oil, both sides have sought to assert more control over the area.—
Justin Fishel,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plead. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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