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
City News Service, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
Between 2021 and 2022, Reese allegedly received more than $70,000 from Alireza Moheb, a Lafayette dentist who in 2023 pleaded guilty to trading painkiller prescriptions to drug dealers in East Contra Costa for cocaine.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2026
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Police’s second search of Annie’s home also came hours after Annie, Savannah, and their brother Camron appeared in a second social media video pleading for Nancy’s kidnappers to release her.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 9 Feb. 2026
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
Smith also agreed to plead guilty to a charge for possession of a firearm by a felon.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Neal Riley, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
The county also repeated a claim made in late 2024, that Mind OC signed a $275,000 contract with a company owned by the wife of the chief of staff for Do, who is serving a 60-month sentence after pleading guilty to federal charges of misusing more than $10 million in public money.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plead
Verb
Fred Joe Ruiz, 55, pleaded guilty Wednesday, March 11, to two counts of burglary and one count each of grand theft and theft of property, all felonies.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
Between 2021 and 2022, Reese allegedly received more than $70,000 from Alireza Moheb, a Lafayette dentist who in 2023 pleaded guilty to trading painkiller prescriptions to drug dealers in East Contra Costa for cocaine.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
Images of a potential person of interest came a day after Savannah Guthrie posted another video pleading for her mother's return.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Police’s second search of Annie’s home also came hours after Annie, Savannah, and their brother Camron appeared in a second social media video pleading for Nancy’s kidnappers to release her.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
The 31-year-old Rozier appeared in a New York courtroom for his arraignment in December, during which Rozier pleaded not guilty and was released on a $3 million bond secured by his home in South Florida.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 9 Mar. 2026
Smith also agreed to plead guilty to a charge for possession of a firearm by a felon.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
One of two Boston store owners charged in a $7 million Massachusetts SNAP fraud case is pleading guilty, court documents show.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
The county also repeated a claim made in late 2024, that Mind OC signed a $275,000 contract with a company owned by the wife of the chief of staff for Do, who is serving a 60-month sentence after pleading guilty to federal charges of misusing more than $10 million in public money.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plead
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
-
Kirk was charged by federal prosecutors with a felony but offered a misdemeanor plea deal before the case went to trial.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
They were not required to enter a plea.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Violators can be punished with fines up to $500 and three months in jail under one anti-begging law and with fines starting at up to $100 and 10 days in jail under a law against soliciting contributions from people in cars.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Higher rates tend to increase the relative appeal of yielding assets such as government bonds versus non-yielding precious metals like gold.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The city didn't want to pay, and won its appeal for a new trial, but since then new evidence has surfaced – allegations of a coverup – according to the family's attorney, Lance Northcutt.—
Dave Savini,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Tim Pennington called again that evening, Bell said, to ask for prayers as his son's condition was worsening, and then later told him the soldier had succumbed to his injuries.—
ALLEN G. BREED,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
-
With a defense-first lineup stuck on the floor and no opportunity to advance the ball, the Nuggets had no choice but to settle for a 60-foot prayer by Gordon at the buzzer.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some candidates who submitted petitions by the March 4 deadline failed to qualify because some of their signatures were deemed invalid.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Prior to that legislation, if a union receives enough petitions to hold an election, there’s no minimum number of votes required for the election.—
Scott Travis,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plead. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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