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 Driver Harjit Kaur was charged only with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence — a maximum one-year sentence — and has pleaded not guilty and demanded a trial. — Ruyuan Li. Story Produced With Ai Assistance, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Jonathan Barbecho, 31, was returned to the city this week and was ordered held without bail at his Thursday arraignment after pleading not guilty, authorities said. — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026 Eric Morgan pleaded guilty in 2023, and was sentenced to seven years in prison. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 At his arraignment Sunday, James pleaded not guilty through his attorney. — Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 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
  • That connection is ultimately what put Tupac’s life in jeopardy, Davis argued in the book Compton Street Legend, which has become a key piece of evidence in the case against him.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • No two tales of what happened to Maelor after his knight protector was shot dead agree, but the young boy was also slain on the bridge, perhaps torn apart by the mob who assailed him, arguing over what to do with the young prince.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of argue
Verb
  • Elsewhere, though, pundits contend that these voters are rejecting socialism and its candidates, as in last year’s party primary for New York City mayor, when then-candidate Zohran Mamdani lost Black communities by wide margins.
    — Theodore R. Johnson, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Football season is back in South Florida as both the Miami Dolphins and Miami Hurricanes have opened training camp, giving fans an early look at teams hoping to contend in the NFL and college football this fall.
    — CBS Miami Team, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of contend
Verb
  • Cousins reasoned that whether an MMR counts as an associated entity is not an automatic yes or no.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • If so many people were already riding their bikes as scooters, the designers reasoned, why not give them the benefits of a true scooter experience while still staying within the legal definition of a bicycle?
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of reason
Verb
  • Could he have been convinced to help the Ukrainian war effort another way?
    — Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The Russian leader, Dickinson says, might be convinced that if a democratic system were allowed to take hold in Russia, that could mark the end of Putin’s rule and perhaps even the break-up of the Russian Federation.
    — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of convince
Verb
  • Enterprise legal teams in 2026 routinely insist on data exit covering prompts, embeddings, and fine-tunes.
    — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Russia has relentlessly pounded civilian areas of Ukraine, even though Moscow insists its forces target only military facilities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of insist
Verb
  • Yes, some companies are asserting that automation has made many employees redundant, and are conducting layoffs accordingly.
    — Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Under Democratic Chairman Tom Wheeler, the FCC asserted authority to change any aspect of the cap.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 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 12 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of plead for Spanish Speakers

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