variants
or pled
also plead
as in argued
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
Relevance
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 pleaded
Both have pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit narcoterrorism and cocaine importation.
—
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Catherine Spidell-Ferguson pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiring to commit bank fraud.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Defense attorneys continue presenting their case Monday in the trial of Tanner Horner, who has pleaded guilty to killing 7-year-old Athena Strand.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026
Tangeman was the ninth person to plead guilty in connection with the scheme, which prosecutors said began around October 2023 and lasted through at least May 2025.
—Andrea Klick, Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026
Bryant was originally indicted in May 2023, and had pleaded not guilty.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2026
Larry Martin Demery pleaded guilty to the July 1993 murder of James Jordan, Michael Jordan’s father.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Her father, Joseph Coles, has repeatedly pleaded for the public's help.
—Aya Al-Hakim, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Marcelin, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, stabbed Anna Laura Serrera Miranda to death in their apartment, a year after being released on lifetime parole in the 1963 case, then brought down the body in a bloody garbage bag shoved into a shopping cart.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
Catherine Spidell-Ferguson pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiring to commit bank fraud.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Defense attorneys continue presenting their case Monday in the trial of Tanner Horner, who has pleaded guilty to killing 7-year-old Athena Strand.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026
Tangeman was the ninth person to plead guilty in connection with the scheme, which prosecutors said began around October 2023 and lasted through at least May 2025.
—Andrea Klick, Oc Register, 27 Apr. 2026
Bryant was originally indicted in May 2023, and had pleaded not guilty.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2026
Larry Martin Demery pleaded guilty to the July 1993 murder of James Jordan, Michael Jordan’s father.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Her father, Joseph Coles, has repeatedly pleaded for the public's help.
—Aya Al-Hakim, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026
Marcelin, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, stabbed Anna Laura Serrera Miranda to death in their apartment, a year after being released on lifetime parole in the 1963 case, then brought down the body in a bloody garbage bag shoved into a shopping cart.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleaded
Verb
-
Both France and Padres manager Craig Stammen argued the call and replays seemed to clearly show the base of the ball was entirely in foul ground.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The trust has said that recognizes the need for a larger meeting space at the White House, but argued that only Congress could authorize it.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Maybe this closure doesn’t mean much to the park’s owner, Suriel reasoned.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Those are the people, Hall reasoned, who have the expendable income for the devices, which range in price from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The company's lawyers have contended that the Oklahoma case in which Drummond intervened is a private dispute that doesn't involve government officials or public funds.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
-
And in an effort to rebut claims that Comey was being selectively prosecuted, Blanche contended the case against the former FBI director was similar to other threats cases the department routinely brings against the lesser known.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After being bossed by Paris Saint-Germain across two legs in the Champions League quarter-final, Slot insisted the future remained bright at Liverpool.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Adelman insisted that his team demonstrated competitive spirit, citing the make-or-break league as an explanation for the loss.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pleaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleaded. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
