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
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Recent Examples of pleas
Despite pleas from her mom, the child was not taken to a hospital until her body went limp in her mother's arms.
—
ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Both changed their pleas to guilty in a California Central District courtroom on Friday morning.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Soto seemed unmoved by the cop’s pleas for leniency.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
Not guilty pleas were entered for McNeal, Person, and Odumn, as well.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
In exchange for the guilty pleas, there will be no further prosecution for the eight victims, the judge said.
—April 8, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
However, despite pleas from Owens’ family, Lorincz was not charged with second-degree murder, a first-degree felony.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano secured the guilty pleas, reducing potential decades-long sentences in a case his office said lacked key physical evidence.
—Michael Dorgan , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Despite being cleared of Kinser’s murder, Vedam’s no-contest pleas to LSD distribution charges put him in danger of deportation.
—Mark Scolforo, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Both changed their pleas to guilty in a California Central District courtroom on Friday morning.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Soto seemed unmoved by the cop’s pleas for leniency.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
Not guilty pleas were entered for McNeal, Person, and Odumn, as well.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
In exchange for the guilty pleas, there will be no further prosecution for the eight victims, the judge said.
—April 8, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
However, despite pleas from Owens’ family, Lorincz was not charged with second-degree murder, a first-degree felony.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano secured the guilty pleas, reducing potential decades-long sentences in a case his office said lacked key physical evidence.
—Michael Dorgan , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Despite being cleared of Kinser’s murder, Vedam’s no-contest pleas to LSD distribution charges put him in danger of deportation.
—Mark Scolforo, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleas
Noun
-
In the wake of the communications’ release — which also included Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds’ appeals to Ben Affleck and Matt Damon for support — insiders told TMZ that Baldoni’s lawyers aimed to call Swift as a hostile witness.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Her team noted key depositions haven't even begun, major discovery disputes remain and even the full list of parties isn’t finalized due to pending motions and appeals.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Maria allegedly provided various excuses for the delay.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
-
All of a sudden, whenever the topic came up, their once-legitimate concerns about the future of the planet were recast as hand-wavey excuses, Caroline’s career setbacks as golden opportunities for pregnancy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Planting seasons, river baptisms, torture, prayers, African dialects, poverty, massacres, lynchings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The ceremony includes chanting, drumming, dancing, and prayers intended to honor the deceased and guide their spirit to the afterlife.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Grove said the agency’s justifications for consolidating offices in Salt Lake City, Utah, don’t make sense.—
Karl Hille,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The numbers and justifications don’t add up.—
Kristen Monsell,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In total, 231 petitions were denied, 232 were withdrawn, two were administratively closed and 740 were abandoned.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Residents who had previously circulated petitions against the data center pivoted to door-knocking for the candidates, collaborating on campaign videos, encouraging their neighbors to show up to vote and even driving each other to the polls.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ex-president Bolsonaro has been serving his sentence under house arrest for health reasons since last month, when he was rushed from prison to hospital with bronchopneumonia.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Instead of litigating to protect the right to vote, the division has focused on demanding unprecedented access to state voter rolls for reasons that remain opaque.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pleas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleas. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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