1
as in appeals
an earnest request
the captive made an impassioned plea for his life to be spared
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in excuses
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame
my only plea is that I've been overworked lately
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pleas
This is mostly still the case in Russia, even as certain locales attract digital pleas of desperation.
—
Sophie Spiegelberger, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
Her 10 admissions of guilt were open pleas, indicating they were made without any promise of leniency from either the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office or the Superior Court.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
Court records show Teniki Steward, 40, entered guilty pleas to two counts of third-degree murder and two counts of criminal vehicular operation.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Judge Teresa McGonicle entered two pleas of not guilty into the record upon Nick Reiner’s agreement.
—Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 23 Feb. 2026
His public defender, Kimberly Greene, entered not guilty pleas on his behalf during his court appearance in Los Angeles on Monday.
—Alex Stone, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Despite a 21-day search and desperate pleas from the Guthrie family for her return, few leads had publicly emerged about where Nancy Guthrie was or who may have taken her.
—Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 21 Feb. 2026
The superintendents' pleas come as school districts have struggled with funding issues and declining enrollment statewide, causing many to cut costs and slow hiring.
—Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Despite Boarman’s pleas to regulators to do more, the agency would ultimately dismiss its earlier findings pointing to oil and gas pollution and close the couple’s case, leaving basic questions about the origins of the problem unanswered.
—Nick Bowlin, The Frontier, 16 Feb. 2026
Sophie Spiegelberger, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
Her 10 admissions of guilt were open pleas, indicating they were made without any promise of leniency from either the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office or the Superior Court.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
Court records show Teniki Steward, 40, entered guilty pleas to two counts of third-degree murder and two counts of criminal vehicular operation.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026
Judge Teresa McGonicle entered two pleas of not guilty into the record upon Nick Reiner’s agreement.
—Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 23 Feb. 2026
His public defender, Kimberly Greene, entered not guilty pleas on his behalf during his court appearance in Los Angeles on Monday.
—Alex Stone, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Despite a 21-day search and desperate pleas from the Guthrie family for her return, few leads had publicly emerged about where Nancy Guthrie was or who may have taken her.
—Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 21 Feb. 2026
The superintendents' pleas come as school districts have struggled with funding issues and declining enrollment statewide, causing many to cut costs and slow hiring.
—Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Despite Boarman’s pleas to regulators to do more, the agency would ultimately dismiss its earlier findings pointing to oil and gas pollution and close the couple’s case, leaving basic questions about the origins of the problem unanswered.
—Nick Bowlin, The Frontier, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleas
Noun
-
Lytvyn, the communications advisor, told CNN that Zelensky decided early on to make appeals for help directly to other nations, rather than just their leaders.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Unless either side appeals, the decision will head to the state Supreme Court for approval.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
These are truths to confront, not cover up with excuses.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The younger guys, who may make excuses or shy away when a coach challenges them, will respect what players like Goldstein or senior catcher Gianni Corral have to say.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
An imam was hauled up from his small room adjacent to his small mosque and ordered to get ready to lead the funeral prayers of a very important man.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Tens of thousands of Palestinians gathered under heavy Israeli restrictions at Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque compound for the first Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, including some who were allowed to enter from the occupied West Bank.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Past administrations offered legal and moral justifications for military inventions, such as the Bush administration’s claims that Iraq was a just war.—
Gerard F. Powers,
The Conversation,
11 Feb. 2026
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Their videos have turned American public opinion squarely against these operations and undercut the administration’s justifications for use of force.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His petitions were challenged in November alleging he was affiliated with the Democratic Party and ineligible to be a candidate in the Republican primary.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Lawmakers face a May 5 deadline to enact initiative petitions.—
State House News Service,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In general, these types of operations – in which security forces take out a cartel leader – lead to more violence, for a variety of reasons.—
Angélica Durán-Martínez,
The Conversation,
24 Feb. 2026
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The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation does not provide information on a person’s time or location of parole release, citing safety and security reasons.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pleas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleas. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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