pleaded

verb

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

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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 pleaded In his 20s, Mazariegos pleaded guilty to a gun possession charge. — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Brown pleaded guilty on May 23, 2024, to one count of racketeering conspiracy. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026 Calvo pleaded not guilty to both civil citations, and the case remains pending. — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026 The mid-September 2026 announcement stated that 19 defendants faced charges; two had just pleaded guilty, while the remainder are slated for trial in April 2027. — Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026 Ivanna Ortiz appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to all 14 counts in the new indictment, which was made public one day after she was found competent to stand trial. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026 Macromark, a Connecticut direct-mail services company, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 The 81st United Nations General Assembly begins on Tuesday, an occasion when the world’s heads of state and top officials can plead their case before the world. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 23 Sep. 2026 Weinstein, 74, pleaded for mercy, citing his age and health issues, including cancer and congestive heart failure. — Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleaded
  1. argued
  2. reasoned
  3. contended
  4. insisted
Verb
  • Supporters of the plan, led by the Swiss People's Party, which includes members with pro-Russia leanings, argued that the government had gravitated too close to the European Union and NATO, particularly over Russia's war in Ukraine.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In the 1920s, mathematician Alfred Lotka argued that evolution favors whatever captures and puts to use the most energy.
    — Canan Karakoç, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of argued
Verb
  • This, the perfectly decent people of Kettleborough reasoned, was a natural and godly rebuke for Susan and Cuthbert’s sin.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • This summer an OpenAI test model broke out of its sandbox, reasoned its way into another company’s servers and stole answers to cheat on its own evaluation.
    — Pam McNall, AJC.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of reasoned
Verb
  • Blacknell contended that four different medical professionals treated Linton after the crash and none of them concluded the wreck was tied to a bipolar episode.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The business contended that the statute was vague and said that handwashing would qualify as a medical action under the act, according to the judge’s order.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of contended
Verb
  • Basner insisted that the money be spent on improving the film.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Khadijah had insisted on nursing their newborn Aziza with her own breast milk, but Latif discovers that only a few pouches remain in the fridge and formula makes his baby sick.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of insisted

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plead
pleaded
pleaded (for)
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Cite this Entry

“Pleaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleaded. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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