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
Christa Swanson, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
At the beginning of their time on the stand at the trial in which Evans pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter of a peace officer and elected to have a jury assess her punishment, the witnesses answered prosecutors’ introductory questions with flat speech.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated March 27, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2026
Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
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
Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
Roybal‑Smith took a deal and pleaded guilty to two charges of second-degree murder in the Aurora stabbings, which dropped two counts of first-degree murder, according to Adams County court records.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 Mar. 2026
An elderly man is tasked with burning the inmates’ letters to Stalin pleading to have their appeals heard.
—Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plead
Verb
Johnson took a plea agreement in January, pleading guilty to leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and tampering with physical evidence.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
At the beginning of their time on the stand at the trial in which Evans pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter of a peace officer and elected to have a jury assess her punishment, the witnesses answered prosecutors’ introductory questions with flat speech.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated March 27, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
On Sunday, Savannah Guthrie posted an emotional video pleading once again for her mother's return.
—Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
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
Verb
McCray pleaded guilty to killing her in 2023 and was sentenced to a 40-year prison term.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
Roybal‑Smith took a deal and pleaded guilty to two charges of second-degree murder in the Aurora stabbings, which dropped two counts of first-degree murder, according to Adams County court records.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Today show co-host had posted several videos on social media pleading for her mom’s safe return, some with her siblings, some alone.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 Mar. 2026
An elderly man is tasked with burning the inmates’ letters to Stalin pleading to have their appeals heard.
—Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 26 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
-
Dozens flocked to City Hall, wielding signs and voicing pleas for Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty, Sacramento City Manager Maraskeshia Smith and other council members to halt construction.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Tiger Woods has entered a plea of not guilty and has waived his arraignment, demanding a trial with a jury.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
31 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
-
After an appeal of those terms, the arbitrator issued the decision to reinstate Moran on Wednesday.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The older two initially resist their parents’ appeals to immerse themselves in nature, but the youngest, who is mute, explores the area and finds a magical tree inhabited by a group of extraordinary characters.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The final two days of Passover commemorate the parting of the Red Sea, which provided an escape route from Egypt, and are also observed with specific traditions by some, such as reading a special prayer, studying the Torah and relaxing the rules around leavened foods.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Community members in the county gathered around the football field March 30 for a group prayer in honor of the students.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But their discharge petition, introduced last week, is short of the 218 signatures needed to move forward.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The interior ministry’s own letter confirming the reopening, seen by Semafor, explicitly references Nyamita’s petition as the trigger.—
Joseph Maina,
semafor.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plead. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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