Plead (Verb)
Meaning 1
Enter a plea, as in courts of law; "She pleaded not guilty".
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge in exchange for a lighter sentence.
- The defendant chose to plead no contest, avoiding a lengthy trial process.
- She pleaded insanity as her defense, but the jury remained unconvinced.
- The suspect pleaded not guilty by reason of self-defense, and the case went to trial.
- The lawyer advised his client to plead guilty and accept a plea bargain.
Related Words
Meaning 2
Appeal or request earnestly; "I pleaded with him to stop".
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- The charity pleaded for donations to support the victims of the natural disaster.
- She pleaded with her parents to extend her curfew, but they refused.
- The activist pleaded with the government to consider the environmental impact of the new development.
- The company's lawyer pleaded with the judge to reconsider the hefty fine imposed upon them.
- The little boy pleaded with his mother to buy him the new toy he had been admiring in the store window.
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 3
Make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding, especially answer the previous pleading of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new facts.
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- The defendant is required to plead to the charge by either denying the allegations or acknowledging guilt.
- In her answer to the complaint, the woman will plead that the other driver was at fault in the accident.
- The company chose to plead not guilty to the charges of violating the environmental regulations.
- After consulting with her lawyer, the woman decided to plead insanity as her defense in the case.
- In his response to the lawsuit, the businessman will plead that he was not involved in the negotiations.
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 4
Offer as an excuse or plea; "She was pleading insanity".
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- The former employee was pleading ignorance about the company's data breach to avoid any liability.
- The student was pleading with the teacher to extend the deadline for the project submission.
- The politicians were pleading poverty to explain their reluctance to provide financial assistance.
- She was pleading youth as an excuse for her reckless behavior.
- He was pleading exhaustion as the reason for his poor performance in the competition.