plea

noun

ˈplē How to pronounce plea (audio)
Definition of pleanext
1
as in appeal
an earnest request the captive made an impassioned plea for his life to be spared

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in excuse
an explanation that frees one from fault or blame my only plea is that I've been overworked lately

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun plea contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of plea are alibi, apologia, apology, excuse, and pretext. While all these words mean "matter offered in explanation or defense," plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy.

her usual plea that she was nearsighted

When is alibi a more appropriate choice than plea?

The words alibi and plea can be used in similar contexts, but alibi implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation.

his alibi failed to stand scrutiny

When can apologia be used instead of plea?

The meanings of apologia and plea largely overlap; however, apologia implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position.

his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy

When would apology be a good substitute for plea?

While the synonyms apology and plea are close in meaning, apology usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances.

said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could

Where would excuse be a reasonable alternative to plea?

While in some cases nearly identical to plea, excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure.

used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting

When is it sensible to use pretext instead of plea?

In some situations, the words pretext and plea are roughly equivalent. However, pretext suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation.

used any pretext to get out of work

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 plea Watch Moore’s six-minute statement/plea below, then hit the comments with your reactions. — Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 7 Mar. 2025 Willis’ lawyer, John Picerno, entered the not guilty plea on Willis’ behalf, and the judge entered the plea on behalf of Carson, who doesn’t yet have an attorney and plans to apply for a public defender. — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2025 Green and Santana, who were 19 and 16 at the time of the shooting, both took plea deals before Miller’s trial. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2025 When asked to enter a plea last year, Kohberger stood silent, prompting a judge to enter a not-guilty plea on his behalf. — CBS News, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for plea
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plea
  1. appeal
  2. excuse
  3. prayer
  4. justification
  5. petition
  6. reason
  7. pleading
  8. apology
Noun
  • Boasberg blocked their deportation, prompting an immediate appeal from the Justice Department.
    — Elliot Spagat, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2025
  • But unlike the Springsteen record of yore, there is a level of acoustic guitar virtuosity here that is a big part of the appeal.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of appeal
Noun
  • Luckily, Rag & Bone’s hidden sale on Gilt, a low-key site with discounts on designer finds, is a great excuse to start a spring closet cleanout.
    — Melony Forcier, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Now, with all this money invested in his side of the ball — with more to come in the draft — the reasonable excuses will vanish.
    — Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of excuse
Noun
  • First was a simple message on X: two prayer hands emojis.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Palestinian rights as a Jewish value Rosen estimates there are now some 30 other anti-Zionist congregations or prayer groups around the country.
    — Yonat Shimron, NPR, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of prayer
Noun
  • Trump claims pardons for those on the bipartisan congressional Jan. 6 committee are void, therefore potentially opening the door toward a justification for investigation.
    — Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025
  • But managers were also instructed to rank such workers and, later, to include a justification for anyone who should be kept.
    — David W. Brown, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of justification
Noun
  • On Monday, March 17 this was increased to $500,000, following an online petition that drew more than 9,000 signatures.
    — Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Justin Gust, vice president of community engagement at El Centro, shared the city of Leavenworth’s Facebook post on Friday, thanking the more than 1,600 people who signed a petition calling for the denial of the application.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of petition
Noun
  • In many cases, people stay together for the wrong reasons and continue to stay in relationships.
    — Emily Longeretta, Variety, 15 Mar. 2025
  • The current top quarterback on the free agent market seems to be Aaron Rodgers, who is known for enjoying being the center of attention, and may be a big reason why multiple teams remain looking for a quarterback.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of reason
Noun
  • Todd McCain, the plaintiff, has until Sept. 1 to seek permission to join additional parties or amend pleadings.
    — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Despite Danielle’s pleading and whining, Carolyn wisely refuses to recruit Britney to their ranks.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025
Definition of pleading
Noun
  • President Trump on Saturday pressed Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) to issue a personal apology after the two didn’t see eye-to-eye earlier this month on a policy regarding transgender athletes in the Polar Star State.
    — Steff Danielle Thomas, The Hill, 22 Mar. 2025
  • With apologies to the late David Bowie, 286 long days spent sitting in a tin can, far above the world.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of apology

Browse Nearby Words

plea
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plea.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plea. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on plea

Nglish: Translation of plea for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All