pleaded

verb

variants or pled also plead
past tense of 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

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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 pleaded Vaughn pleaded no contest to murder in Dallas County in exchange for his release. — Brett Barrouquere, Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026 Miller pleaded not guilty and remains free on a $100,000 bond. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026 At the same hearing, a fifth defendant, Subhan Ahmed, 18, pleaded not guilty to a charge of assisting an offender. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 In an agreement with the state, Josiah Hoffman, the other person indicted in Snellings’ death, in late July pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for a 35-year prison sentence and commitment to testify truthfully against Greer at trial. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 Høiby pleaded not guilty to the most severe accusations against him, including those of rape, while admitting to some lesser charges. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 In 2014, Reginald Wayne pleaded guilty in federal court to four felony charges and two misdemeanor charges related to labor fraud, visa fraud and failing to pay minimum wages to students at his Bible college. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Aug. 2026 In addition to Hester, two other men have pleaded guilty and agreed to testify. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2026 Maduro and his wife, who have pleaded not guilty, are set to go on trial in New York City, in 2027. — Emily Chang, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleaded
  1. argued
  2. reasoned
  3. contended
  4. insisted
Verb
  • Group argued construction could be irreversible The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is challenging the ballroom, had told the justices that the project would likely become irreversible unless it is stopped now.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Palal acknowledged that Davis’ accounts of the killing evolved over the years but argued those differences reflected Davis’ changing motivations and efforts to protect himself.
    — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of argued
Verb
  • Arab Americans, the group reasoned, would need to organize to resist what was becoming reflexive support for Israel.
    — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Instead, Watts reasoned McCollough must not have had enough water that day.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of reasoned
Verb
  • Rosengart said Gomez should be dismissed from the lawsuit and contended the investors should not have sued her.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • That wouldn’t have left time for the psychotic, hallucinatory state to begin and for the voices in Clancy’s head to kick in and tell her to kill the children and carry out the suicide attempt, as the defense team has contended, Sprague said.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of contended
Verb
  • The secretary insisted he is focused on leading the War Department.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Some Hindu reform movements that developed under colonialism insisted that Hinduism is monotheistic or monist.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of insisted

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plead
pleaded
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Cite this Entry

“Pleaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleaded. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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