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
Relevance
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 60-year-old pleaded guilty in 2013 to illegally using $750,000 in campaign funds for personal items.
—
Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
To demonstrate the district attorney’s alleged bias, the motion highlighted the examination of witness John Richardson, a Loyola Marymount University student from the Bay Area who was among the 13 arrested in 2024 but later entered a youth diversion program after pleading no contest.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2026
Green pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison and a maximum term of 20 years, officials said.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
Night after night inside south Texas’ Dilley Immigration Processing Center with hundreds of other families, the grade-schooler wept and pleaded to know why they were being held.
—ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plead
Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
To demonstrate the district attorney’s alleged bias, the motion highlighted the examination of witness John Richardson, a Loyola Marymount University student from the Bay Area who was among the 13 arrested in 2024 but later entered a youth diversion program after pleading no contest.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2026
Green pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison and a maximum term of 20 years, officials said.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
Night after night inside south Texas’ Dilley Immigration Processing Center with hundreds of other families, the grade-schooler wept and pleaded to know why they were being held.
—ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plead
Verb
-
Mahdawi also has an ongoing case in federal district court arguing he was unlawfully detained.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Pedestrianization often faces local political hurdles, but is usually hailed as a success once implemented, The Guardian argued.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Manuelian contends Fathizadeh had momentarily gone to the kitchen to turn off a stove and stir oatmeal, and did not realize two of the children had gone to the pool area, where the pool gate was usually locked.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The lawsuit further contends that the current special education reimbursement rate is unconstitutionally deficient.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If average American workers can write their own software, stock traders reasoned, then what will become of software companies?—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
-
For the sake of their development and a healthy society, students need to learn how to reason, debate and coexist with people who think differently.—
Dana Stangel-Plowe,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Commonwealth is trying to convince the judge to either allow Cox to self-represent on all charges or have the public defender represent Cox on all the charges, rather than allow Cox to self represent on only some of the charges.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Feb. 2026
-
During his address to Congress — which was the longest ever — the president tried to convince Americans that the nation overall is doing well.—
Grace Miserocchi,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Trump insists Iran should not be allowed to enrich any uranium at all.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Some commentators interpreted Altman’s remark as a veiled criticism of Anthropic, which had not agreed to these terms previously and instead insisted on explicit contractual restrictions on how its models could be used.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Polling suggests the political picture is more complicated than the loudest voices on either side assert.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Iran asserts control over the passage of tankers through the strait.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plead. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
