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 The three defendants have pleaded not guilty to murder, and their trial is expected to last 40 days. — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 All three officially pleaded not guilty to her murder on Wednesday. — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026 Cook ultimately pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a two-way communications device in 2019 and was placed on probation for three years. — Kate Payne, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026 Spiro Agnew pleaded nolo contendere in federal court to a single count of tax evasion. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 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
  • Marc Elias has argued dozens of cases around mail-in balloting and election access across the country and in front of the Supreme Court over the last decade.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • His complaint argues that the plural title invites audiences to suspect a second culprit besides Mun.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of argue
Verb
  • Georgia Power is adding an unprecedented amount of new electricity to its power grid, much of which will come from gas plants, which critics contend will produce more planet-warming greenhouse gases.
    — Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The color line As in Germany, historians contend that Southern Jews who wanted reforms, which wound up making worship more similar to a Protestant service, were responding to the overwhelmingly Christian makeup of the society around them.
    — Ashley Walters, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of contend
Verb
  • The model had to reason about a structured but unfamiliar environment using the information available through the game’s underlying protocol.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • This makes generalization and AGI key concepts when reasoning about the speed of progress.
    — Geoffrey Irving, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of reason
Verb
  • Compelling information, but not strong enough to convince a politician.
    — Kent Sepkowitz, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Did Porsha convince Kyle to finally just be a lesbian already?
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of convince
Verb
  • The president and his allies have insisted that existing liability laws offer enough protections.
    — Jeff Masonand Michael Shepard Bloomberg, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Ribera insists that this misunderstands the European perspective.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of insist
Verb
  • Strong will have to assert herself vocally, as well as with the ball.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Emirati prosecutors opened an investigation after a co-pilot stabbed his captain mid-flight, asserting jurisdiction over a crime that also concerns Saudi Arabia and Israel.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of assert

Phrases Containing plead

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plead
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Cite this Entry

“Plead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plead. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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