pleads

verb

present tense third-person singular of plead
as in argues
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 pleads Phaedra pleads with Porsha to at least keep it cool at her birthday dinner that evening, but Porsha can’t even promise that. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 20 July 2026 Fort Worth Police Department’s West Division At 17 minutes, Beth (Kelly Reilly) pleads with Sheriff Wade (Josh Stewart) at the Rio Paloma Sheriff’s Office to find Carter (Finn Little). — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026 Such agreements do not become effective until the defendant pleads guilty before a judge. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026 Mother pleads for help finding son His mother asked community members to check hotels, hostels, capsule hotels, internet cafés, manga cafés, train stations, convenience stores, hiking areas, rivers, shrines and other places. — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 3 June 2026 Continue reading … 'TWILIGHT ZONE' — NYC landlord pleads for help as '9-year-squatter' turns his life upside down. — FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026 The mother of baby Emmanuel Haro, who claimed he had been kidnapped, pleads guilty to his death. — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026 Paxton is arrested after turning himself in and pleads not guilty to the charges. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 28 May 2026 Georgie pleads, but Meemaw believes that Fred might help Mary loosen up. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleads
  1. argues
  2. contends
  3. reasons
  4. insists
  5. asserts
Verb
  • But that might not be enough to mitigate what could be a public relations fallout, Isle argues.
    — Martina Di Licosa, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Leadership expert Cory Scheer argues that organizational trust, often seen as an intangible virtue, is a measurable and cultivable foundation for sustainable performance.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of argues
Verb
  • True loyalty, the article contends, lies in dedication to one's craft, continuous learning, and impact.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The lawsuit contends Equifax failed to follow reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy, as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 31 July 2026
Definition of contends
Verb
  • How the Fed reasons its way to agreements is as important as the agreements.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 18 June 2026
  • The system reasons underneath, processing infinitely complex 3D scenarios, handling trade clashes, regulations and tradeoffs - learning from user feedback over time to eliminate the need for users to supervise its intelligence.
    — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Definition of reasons
Verb
  • Kyiv has accused Iran of supply drones to Russia; Iran insists it is not involved in the war in Ukraine.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 27 July 2026
  • Erdogan's government insists that Turkey’s courts are impartial and act independently of political pressure.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
Definition of insists
Verb
  • The 2026 Neurodiversity in Business Report, based on extensive data, asserts neuroinclusion is now about strategic work design, management capability, and talent retention, not just awareness.
    — Nancy Doyle, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • The Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 17 asserts that Iran can never develop a nuclear weapon—a promise the regime has made in the past.
    — Callum Sutherland, Time, 24 July 2026
Definition of asserts

Browse Nearby Words

pleading (to)
pleads
pleads (for)
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Cite this Entry

“Pleads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleads. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of pleads for Spanish Speakers

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