pleas

noun

plural of plea
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

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 pleas Disturbing jailhouse conversations don’t connect mother to murders Allegations of drug abuse and child neglect against Marcee Gray were already well established by the time her son Colt entered guilty pleas on 55 counts. — Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026 At the time of arraignment, the two entered not guilty pleas. — Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 31 July 2026 Kohberger recently filed a petition for post-conviction relief seeking to undo his guilty pleas. — Michael Ruiz , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026 Following their mother Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, the siblings have stood by one another and made public pleas for her safety together. — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 27 July 2026 Both Glanzer and Comic-Con Chair Robin Donlan made public pleas for a corporate sponsor for the wi-fi. — Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 According to data from June, prosecutors have secured guilty pleas in 40 of those cases — but lost nearly every case that has gone to trial. — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026 Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, appeared in federal court in Sacramento on Monday but did not enter pleas to charges of kidnapping a federal employee and aiding and abetting. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 21 July 2026 Players including Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, former Jets defensive tackle Solomon Thomas and former Giants safety Julian Love used the hashtag #WorthTheCost in their online pleas. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 20 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleas
  1. appeals
  2. excuses
  3. prayers
  4. justifications
  5. petitions
  6. reasons
Noun
  • Trump was flattered into joining Benjamin Netanyahu in attacking Iran, where former presidents had the intelligence to refuse his appeals.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Payments will not be released until the court grants final approval and all appeals have been resolved.
    — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of appeals
Noun
  • Kiffin understands that excuses aren’t going to fly, even if some are valid about recruiting during a time when coaches were traveling back and forth from Oxford to Baton Rouge.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The Galliano incident had nothing to do with Israel or the kinds of excuses some people are using today for antisemitism.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of excuses
Noun
  • Please keep her family, her fellow deputies, and the entire Lexington County community in your prayers.
    — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
  • During this incredibly difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with the Ulbrich family.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of prayers
Noun
  • Echoing Turkey’s justifications for its contentious S-400 acquisition completed the year before, which led a ban from the F-35 program and CAATSA sanctions slapped on Ankara, Iraqi officials claimed America offered no viable alternative.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • And in many cases, the same justifications elucidated by Douglass remain.
    — Jacob Ware, The Conversation, 31 July 2026
Definition of justifications
Noun
  • The Supreme Court ruled immediately after hearing arguments that the registrar had relied on advice from Thomas’s office to issue the petitions.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026
  • So far this year, 25 people — including Kohberger — have filed petitions for post-conviction relief in Ada County, according to a review of court records by the Statesman.
    — Alex Brizee July 30, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026
Definition of petitions
Noun
  • From environmental factors to watering and fertilizing regimens, here are some of the most common reasons why crepe myrtles don’t flower and what to do about it.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Deals like this appear because people buy on impulse, then quickly lose interest for various reasons.
    — Damian Peach, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of reasons

Browse Nearby Words

plead (to)
pleas
pleasance
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Cite this Entry

“Pleas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleas. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pleas

Nglish: Translation of pleas for Spanish Speakers

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