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
Alonso pleaded guilty on Monday to misdemeanor careless boating, according to The Miami Herald.
—
Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
In 2020, the utility pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter after a transmission-line failure caused the deadly 2018 Camp Fire that razed Paradise in Butte County.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Gonzales has pleaded not guilty and his legal team maintains he's being scapegoated.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2026
Graham pleaded not guilty, while Carruthers entered no plea.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plead
Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
In 2020, the utility pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter after a transmission-line failure caused the deadly 2018 Camp Fire that razed Paradise in Butte County.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Gonzales has pleaded not guilty and his legal team maintains he's being scapegoated.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2026
Graham pleaded not guilty, while Carruthers entered no plea.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plead
Verb
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Mahan has also faulted the governor’s administration for dismissing allegations of waste, fraud and abuse in state programs, arguing those concerns should not be partisan.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
13 Jan. 2026
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As argued in his book Abundance, Ezra Klein explains how America's growth has been hindered by well-meaning regulations, permitting requirements, and veto points that have blocked affordable housing, infrastructure, and clean energy development.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Paramount will likely contend that overly conservative—or overly optimistic—assumptions about refinancing costs, interest rates, and cash flow could skew the board’s judgment about what constitutes fair value.—
Corey Martin,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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In the Lambden case, a homeowner contended that the board pursued the wrong response to termite problems and sued the HOA.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The judge reasoned the technological advances unleashed by AI already have been forcing significant changes in online search.—
Michael Liedtke,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
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The company also announced a partnership with Google DeepMind to integrate Gemini Robotics AI, enabling Atlas to reason through complex instructions and operate in unstructured environments.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Just weeks after the fun ended, Mosley must convince boosters, donors and fans that 2025 doesn't have to be a one-off.—
Mac Engel Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Arkansas Online,
11 Jan. 2026
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But some believe a traveling, apocalyptic preacher convinced her that killing Noah, John, Paul, Luke and Mary was the only way to save them from eternal damnation.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Boasberg has insisted that, despite the men’s return to Venezuela, the government remains obligated to provide them a chance to challenge their removals.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Jan. 2026
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The studio insisted that any interviews with other minors in the case be arranged through the studio lawyer, and refused to turn over an internal investigation about Busfield until three months after police got a warrant for it.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The complaint asserts that Minneapolis and Saint Paul have been forced to divert officers from their usual duties to respond to incidents involving federal immigration enforcement, undermining local efforts to protect the community.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
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In an interview, Lawson-Remer asserted the board’s authority to control the county’s finances and budget.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plead. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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