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
as in to seek
to make a request for
the children pleaded for a kitten for Christmas
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in prayerful
asking humbly
a pleading husband seeking forgiveness once again from his long-suffering wife
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in plea
an earnest request
coldhearted tourists pointedly ignoring the pleadings of the city's many street urchins
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
as in arguing
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of plead
ABC News, 16 May 2026
The Tennessee man who previously admitted to shooting Young Dolph pleaded guilty Friday to charges stemming from the rapper’s 2021 death, bringing the murder case to its conclusion.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2026
Irene Wright, USA Today, 1 May 2026
His firm twice praised the 2021 affidavit option in early court pleadings but made no mention in hearings of its disappearance from the new plan.
—Craig R. McCoy, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
Many districts delayed closures in response to parents and generations of former students who pleaded with leaders to keep the neighborhood institutions open.
—Stacker, Boston Herald, 18 May 2026
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Canada received a 110-month prison sentence in December after pleading guilty, officials said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for plead
Verb
Videos published on social media this week show groups of crying women and children pleading for help.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
The Tennessee man who previously admitted to shooting Young Dolph pleaded guilty Friday to charges stemming from the rapper’s 2021 death, bringing the murder case to its conclusion.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2026
Noun
Jain said Jackson has not been formally served with any pleadings, and his representatives were never contacted by Mayers' team over the suit.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 1 May 2026
His firm twice praised the 2021 affidavit option in early court pleadings but made no mention in hearings of its disappearance from the new plan.
—Craig R. McCoy, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
The boy’s mother, Deja Taylor, pleaded guilty to a state charge of felony child neglect and was sentenced to two years in prison in 2023, as well as a 21-month sentence on related federal charges.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
Many districts delayed closures in response to parents and generations of former students who pleaded with leaders to keep the neighborhood institutions open.
—Stacker, Boston Herald, 18 May 2026
Verb
For his financial crimes, Murdaugh was sentenced in state court to 27 years in prison after pleading guilty to 22 counts including money laundering and breach of trust.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Canada received a 110-month prison sentence in December after pleading guilty, officials said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for plead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plead
Verb
-
Anyone seriously arguing now that money wasn't a major or even the decisive factor here?—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
19 May 2026
-
At the civil trial, plaintiffs argued Parker failed to properly investigate the reports of the gun.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The opener will be Vrabel’s first game since the reigning AP Coach of the Year missed Day 3 of the NFL draft to seek counseling following the publication of photos of him and longtime football reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort.—
Rob Maaddi,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
The changes that the mayor is seeking will still set this housing apart for those who need it most, but not let bureaucracy itself drive them away.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Adonis yells as Gillis begs him to pull over.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
-
Beyond a few days with warmer temperatures, the real sign that spring has arrived is when my nose starts to run, my throat begins to itch, and my eyes are begging for eye drops every morning.—
Carly Totten,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Sagrada Família was founded as an expiatory church, meaning that it would be financed by prayerful donations from people atoning for their sins.—
D. T. Max,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Pärt’s formulas, born out of long, prayerful periods with sacred texts, offer beauty in the warmth and friction of relationships: melody and tintinnabuli, word and the limits of language, sounds and silence.—
Jeffers Engelhardt,
The Conversation,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
He is being held without bail and has not yet entered a plea.—
Michael Ruiz , Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
Lawhead has still not entered a plea to the criminal charges.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Rusak argued that runoffs favor Paxton because base voters with the strongest attachment to candidates turn out at higher rates, while casual primary voters often skip the second round.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 May 2026
-
McElmurry argued that no convincing motive was established for why Castillo would permit the beating, and sought to reframe the text message as his client soberly describing that he was being blamed for the attack.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
In recent years, a few prominent detransitioners, including Chloe Cole and Prisha Mosley, have advocated for restrictions on transition care for minors, arguing in lawsuits against doctors who treated them that their care was too easy to access and that doctors failed them.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
-
James Ward During the debate, Republican candidate Steve Hilton said that only a small percentage of California has been developed for housing, arguing that the state should focus on building homes on undeveloped land rather than increasing density in existing cities.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Google contends that none of these bypasses actually work.—
Lee Hutchinson,
ArsTechnica,
19 May 2026
-
That so many exceptional shots came from Rai, a 31-year-old who had never so much as contended in a major, is irrelevant.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plead. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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