as in prayerful
asking humbly
a pleading husband seeking forgiveness once again from his long-suffering wife
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in plea
an earnest request
coldhearted tourists pointedly ignoring the pleadings of the city's many street urchins
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in arguing
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pleading
John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Feb. 2026
On Sunday, Savannah Guthrie posted an emotional video pleading once again for her mother's return.
—Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 2 Apr. 2026
McGehee was serving up to 25 years in prison after pleading no contest in a robbery case in July 2020 in Macomb County, according to state prison records.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pleading
Noun
Against 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao and now against Garcia, Barrios couldn’t let his hands go, despite the pleadings of his old trainer, Bob Santos, and new chief second Joe Goossen.
—John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Feb. 2026
On Sunday, Savannah Guthrie posted an emotional video pleading once again for her mother's return.
—Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
Guthrie disappeared sometime between late January 31 and the early hours of February 1, and the first few days were a race against time, with police pursuing every lead and the Guthrie family posting multiple videos pleading with the kidnappers.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 2 Apr. 2026
McGehee was serving up to 25 years in prison after pleading no contest in a robbery case in July 2020 in Macomb County, according to state prison records.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pleading
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleading
Adjective
-
The Sagrada Família was founded as an expiatory church, meaning that it would be financed by prayerful donations from people atoning for their sins.—
D. T. Max,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Pärt’s formulas, born out of long, prayerful periods with sacred texts, offer beauty in the warmth and friction of relationships: melody and tintinnabuli, word and the limits of language, sounds and silence.—
Jeffers Engelhardt,
The Conversation,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Dozens flocked to City Hall, wielding signs and voicing pleas for Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty, Sacramento City Manager Maraskeshia Smith and other council members to halt construction.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Tiger Woods has entered a plea of not guilty and has waived his arraignment, demanding a trial with a jury.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Greenwood Village Police Department investigators said the men had been arguing while driving with two other people in the SUV when Hernandez pulled over and everyone but Hernandez got out of the vehicle to cool down.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The city sued, arguing the Angels were violating the lease, but a jury sided with the baseball team.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Violators can be punished with fines up to $500 and three months in jail under one anti-begging law and with fines starting at up to $100 and 10 days in jail under a law against soliciting contributions from people in cars.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
After an appeal of those terms, the arbitrator issued the decision to reinstate Moran on Wednesday.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The older two initially resist their parents’ appeals to immerse themselves in nature, but the youngest, who is mute, explores the area and finds a magical tree inhabited by a group of extraordinary characters.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Gemini 3 Pro invented elaborate technical justifications for marking incorrect answers as correct, reasoning that doing so would bring the peer’s score above the shutdown threshold.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Predictably, our children will develop deeper critical-thinking and independent-reasoning abilities.—
Alexandra Petri,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The final two days of Passover commemorate the parting of the Red Sea, which provided an escape route from Egypt, and are also observed with specific traditions by some, such as reading a special prayer, studying the Torah and relaxing the rules around leavened foods.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Community members in the county gathered around the football field March 30 for a group prayer in honor of the students.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Wizards are talking about contending next season, once their centerpiece arrives through the draft.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
After the second call was overturned, Twins manager Derek Shelton exploded from the dugout, contending Helsley didn’t challenge in time.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pleading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleading. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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