plead

verb

ˈplēd How to pronounce plead (audio)
Definition of pleadnext
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

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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 plead The foster family pleaded guilty in the case and the foster father was sentenced in 2024 to seven years in prison. — ABC News, 2 July 2026 Kidan pleaded guilty in 2005 to fraud and conspiracy related to the purchase of a fleet of gambling boats, and in 2006 he was sentenced to nearly six years in prison. — Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 An ex-Twin Rivers Unified School District teacher accused of taking money from her school’s student body bank account over a two-year span pleaded not guilty Thursday in Sacramento Superior Court to felony embezzlement and grand theft charges. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 2 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 See All Example Sentences for plead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plead
  1. argue
  2. contend
  3. reason
  4. convince
  5. insist
  6. assert
Verb
  • The defense had argued to delay the hearing, saying in court filings this spring the high volume of discovery meant Robinson’s attorneys would be unable to adequately prepare.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Proponents argue recordings would solve a long-standing crisis that leaves many proceedings with no verbatim record.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of argue
Verb
  • Shopping for cannabis based solely on THC percentage is fundamentally flawed, experts contend.
    — Peter Su, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Her attorneys contend the defendants used the litigation to portray her as dishonest, intimidate potential witnesses, fuel a public relations campaign against her and drive up the cost of her legal defense.
    — Adam Reiss, NBC news, 30 June 2026
Definition of contend
Verb
  • With no energy available to warm the planet to these temperatures, the team reasoned that the temperature must be a residual effect of prior warming either from being engulfed by the red giant or during an inward migration.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 2 July 2026
  • The second is reasoning intelligence, the layer that looks at a task, breaks it into steps and figures out how to do it, including things like making a judgement call on whether an object will be heavy or light.
    — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of reason
Verb
  • The court date begins a weeklong preliminary hearing where prosecutors aim to convince a Utah judge to allow the trial to move forward.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Ryan would love nothing more than to help convince the front office to add and give this team a chance down the stretch.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of convince
Verb
  • Rodríguez rejected those accusations, insisting authorities mobilized immediately.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
  • Even with some international teams packing up to go home, Rodríguez late Thursday insisted that the government was not winding down rescue efforts.
    — Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Definition of insist
Verb
  • Kavanaugh could have limited his separate opinion to asserting that Trump’s order couldn’t override a federal law, which was all that was needed to decide the case.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Lawyers in the gas station lawsuit assert that technology is enabling antitrust violations.
    — Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of assert

Phrases Containing plead

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pleaching
plead
pleaded
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Cite this Entry

“Plead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plead. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on plead

Nglish: Translation of plead for Spanish Speakers

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