Synonyms of plead

plead 1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈplēd 

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

• argue
• contend
• reason
• convince
• insist
• assert
• explain
• maintain
• persuade
• justify
• mention
• suggest
• claim
• consider
• cite
• urge
• affirm
• propose
• defend
• advise
• submit
• offer
• adduce
• discuss
• counsel
• give
• enforce
• recommend
• advocate
• avow
• aver
• rebut
• refute
• rationalize
• advance
• disprove
• support
• avouch
• counter
• espouse
• confute
• debate
• champion

plead (for)

2 of 4

verb (2)

as in to seek

to make a request for

the children pleaded for a kitten for Christmas

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seek
• request
• call (for)
• speak (for)
• sue (for)
• ask (for)
• wish (for)
• apply (for)
• beg (for)
• desire
• require
• press (for)
• quest
• clamor (for)
• insist (on)
• demand
• urge
• petition (for)
• solicit
• claim
• invite
• invoke
• bespeak
• exact
• importune
• enjoin
• requisition

plead (to)

3 of 4

verb (3)

as in to beg

to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner

weary of charities that are always pleading to people of modest means to contribute even more than they already have

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beg
• petition
• appeal (to)
• pray
• call on
• ask
• beseech
• implore
• impetrate
• conjure
• entreat
• require
• besiege
• solicit
• supplicate
• request
• importune
• invoke
• desire
• compel
• sponge
• insist
• force
• coerce
• demand
• bludge
• cadge
• claim
• mooch
• command

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suggest
• imply
• please
• hint
• intimate
• satisfy
• appease
• gratify
• placate
• oblige
• content
• pacify
• conciliate
• comfort
• console
• quiet
• mollify

pleaded

4 of 4

verb (4)

variants or pled also plead

past tense of plead

as in argued

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

• argued
• reasoned
• contended
• insisted
• convinced
• asserted
• maintained
• explained
• mentioned
• persuaded
• claimed
• justified
• suggested
• urged
• cited
• considered
• affirmed
• adduced
• proposed
• advised
• offered
• submitted
• averred
• discussed
• recommended
• defended
• advocated
• gave
• enforced
• counseled
• countered
• championed
• avowed
• refuted
• advanced
• espoused
• supported
• debated
• avouched
• rationalized
• rebutted
• disproved
• confuted

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of plead

Verb

Mack served two years of a three-year sentence in prison, from 2021-2023, after pleading guilty to her involvement in the recruitment of women to NXIVM. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025

Gosnell, currently suspended from his position as a magistrate judge, has been denied bond and pleaded not guilty. —Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2025

Verb

Andres pleaded guilty to the killing and was sentenced to nine years but walked free after just 18 months due to his good behavior while behind bars. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025

Bolton has pleaded not guilty to all charges. —Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

Phrases Containing plead

• plead (for)
• plead (to)