Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb plead

4 senses of plead

Sense 1
plead -- (appeal or request earnestly; "I pleaded with him to stop")
       => appeal, invoke -- (request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection; "appeal to somebody for help"; "Invoke God in times of trouble")

Sense 2
plead -- (offer as an excuse or plea; "She was pleading insanity")
       => apologize, apologise, excuse, justify, rationalize, rationalise -- (defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning; "rationalize the child's seemingly crazy behavior"; "he rationalized his lack of success")

Sense 3
plead -- (enter a plea, as in courts of law; "She pleaded not guilty")
       => declare -- (state emphatically and authoritatively; "He declared that he needed more money to carry out the task he was charged with")

Sense 4
plead -- (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)
       => allege, aver, say -- (report or maintain; "He alleged that he was the victim of a crime"; "He said it was too late to intervene in the war"; "The registrar says that I owe the school money")