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
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Recent Examples of pleas
In the days following her abduction, the NBC anchor and her siblings have issued various emotional pleas for her return, offering to pay after unverified ransom notes were sent to several media organizations.
—
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Last year, Rivera hired a new attorney, Matt Fakhoury, a former Cook County prosecutor himself, who made pleas to Demacopoulos and her successor, Craig Engebretson, to further investigate whether charges could be filed.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Two guilty pleas Madison was once a student-athlete himself.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2026
The former Apple Daily staffers and activists involved in Lai's case entered guilty pleas, which helped reduce their sentences Monday.
—CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
The former Apple Daily staffers and activists involved in Lai’s case entered guilty pleas, which helped reduce their sentences Monday.
—Kanis Leung, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
The Guthrie family has now made four public pleas for her safe return.
—Helen Rummel, AZCentral.com, 9 Feb. 2026
While an injury study may be inconclusive, what is conclusive is that despite some pleas to not add games, the schedule will grow.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026
Though two players made impassioned pleas for other hard-to-catch skill-position players.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Last year, Rivera hired a new attorney, Matt Fakhoury, a former Cook County prosecutor himself, who made pleas to Demacopoulos and her successor, Craig Engebretson, to further investigate whether charges could be filed.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
Two guilty pleas Madison was once a student-athlete himself.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 10 Feb. 2026
The former Apple Daily staffers and activists involved in Lai's case entered guilty pleas, which helped reduce their sentences Monday.
—CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
The former Apple Daily staffers and activists involved in Lai’s case entered guilty pleas, which helped reduce their sentences Monday.
—Kanis Leung, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026
The Guthrie family has now made four public pleas for her safe return.
—Helen Rummel, AZCentral.com, 9 Feb. 2026
While an injury study may be inconclusive, what is conclusive is that despite some pleas to not add games, the schedule will grow.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026
Though two players made impassioned pleas for other hard-to-catch skill-position players.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleas
Noun
-
Supreme Court has been receptive to Trump's appeals The court – which has a 6-3 conservative majority − has been overwhelmingly receptive to Trump’s appeals of challenges to his actions as president, often allowing controversial policies to move forward while they’re being litigated.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
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This travel style appeals to those who value relaxation above all else.—
Jacqueline Dole,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Stop making excuses, show some leadership and act like a governor, Maura Healey.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
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No matter the schedule, no matter who’s out, there are no excuses.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Please continue to keep James’s wife and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Feb. 2026
-
My thoughts and prayers go out to his 6 kids, his wife and family!—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
So while the balance-sheet justifications might shift, the general logic won’t.—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In a somewhat baffling aside that failed to meet the moment, Jordan Klepper popped in, supposedly live from Minneapolis, to satirize the ever-shifting goalposts of the administration’s justifications for Pretti’s death.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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However, city spokesman Erik Johnson said the city clerk requires 30 days to validate petitions to ensure a sufficient number of signatures are from qualified voters — and the deadline for Austin City Council to call a May election is on Friday.—
Chaya Tong,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
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Both parties claim problems such as invalid signatures and missing or incorrect voter information on petitions that judicial candidates submit to secure a place on the ballot.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Despite the fact that South Korea is obviously, for very understandable reasons, suspicious about Japanese nationalism.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
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The judge cited the 23-year-old defendant's potential for rehabilitation and difficult upbringing as reasons for the lower sentence.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pleas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleas. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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