variants
or pled
also 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
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Recent Examples of pleaded
In 2012, the former governor, Mario Villanueva, pleaded guilty in a US federal court to laundering millions of dollars in narco-bribes.
—
Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Navarro’s mother pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of making false statements after lying to the FBI when questioned about receiving funds from her son’s campaign.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
The 32-year-olds have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty Monday to murder in the killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, last year.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026
The files also appear to confirm their friendship remained intact after Epstein pled guilty in June 2008 to charges of solicitation of prostitution and of solicitation of prostitution with a minor under the age of 18 — and was sentenced to 18 months in a minimum-security facility.
—Camille Behnke, NBC news, 23 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles entertainment and trial lawyer Tre Lovell tells USA TODAY that Reiner will likely plead not guilty by reason of insanity.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Crimo's son, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of murder and attempted murder in April 2025 and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Eh Tha Blay, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting third-degree property damage in December.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
Navarro’s mother pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of making false statements after lying to the FBI when questioned about receiving funds from her son’s campaign.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
The 32-year-olds have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty Monday to murder in the killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, last year.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026
The files also appear to confirm their friendship remained intact after Epstein pled guilty in June 2008 to charges of solicitation of prostitution and of solicitation of prostitution with a minor under the age of 18 — and was sentenced to 18 months in a minimum-security facility.
—Camille Behnke, NBC news, 23 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles entertainment and trial lawyer Tre Lovell tells USA TODAY that Reiner will likely plead not guilty by reason of insanity.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
Crimo's son, who was 19 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of murder and attempted murder in April 2025 and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Eh Tha Blay, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting third-degree property damage in December.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleaded
Verb
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Some board members who voted no said the district had not sufficiently demonstrated that broad layoff notices were the most responsible or strategic option and argued that the analysis did not fully account for the operational and human consequences of issuing RIF notices at that scale.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
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The war enters its fifth year this month, and Kyiv is in a stronger position than at the start of 2025, a Carnegie Endowment expert argued in Foreign Affairs.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Aside from contributing more tax money and stimulating the economy, O’Leary also reasoned that some billionaires are self-made and shouldn’t be punished for succeeding financially in their careers.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
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Altman reasoned that these economic changes would be the result of AI allowing individuals to be vastly more productive.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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His lawyers have contended ICE racially profiled him.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
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Kyle McNabb, however, contended in police documents that the internal temperature of such a vehicle could have climbed above 140 degrees.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Reverend Jackson did not protest technology, but rather insisted on participating in shaping it.—
Brennan Nevada Johnson,
Fortune,
22 Feb. 2026
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The French insisted that their routine had a high level of difficulty and that they had been rewarded justly.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pleaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleaded. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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