Pleading: meaning, definitions and examples

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pleading

 

[ หˆpliหdษชล‹ ]

Noun / Adjective
Context #1 | Noun

legal system

the action of making an emotional or earnest appeal to someone

Synonyms

appeal, entreaty, imploring, petition.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
pleading

Use when someone is desperately asking for something, often with an emotional tone.

  • She was pleading with him to stay
  • The child's pleading eyes were impossible to ignore
appeal

Use when someone is making a formal request or asking for help in a serious situation. Often used in legal or official contexts.

  • The charity made an appeal for donations
  • He filed an appeal to reduce his prison sentence
entreaty

Use when someone is making an earnest and humble request, often in a solemn or serious tone.

  • His entreaty for mercy was heartfelt
  • The entreaty moved everyone to tears
petition

Use when someone is making a formal written request to an authority, often signed by many people.

  • The community started a petition to improve the local park
  • They submitted a petition for better healthcare facilities
imploring

Use when someone is urgently and emotionally begging for something, often in a dramatic way.

  • She looked at him with imploring eyes
  • They were imploring for help in their time of need

Examples of usage

  • Her pleading for justice fell on deaf ears.
  • The lawyer's pleading was compelling and convincing.
Context #2 | Noun

informal

a request made in an urgent and emotional manner

Synonyms

begging, plea, solicitation.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
pleading

When someone is making an emotional and serious request, usually in a desperate or urgent situation.

  • She was pleading with him to stay.
plea

A formal request often made in a legal context or when asking for help or a favor, typically implying urgency or desperation.

  • He made a plea for mercy.
begging

Used when someone requests something earnestly or desperately, often in a somewhat degrading or humble manner.

  • He was begging for some food.
solicitation

The act of asking for something, often in a formal or professional manner, such as in business or fundraising contexts. Can sometimes have a negative connotation if it feels intrusive.

  • She received a solicitation for donations.

Examples of usage

  • Her pleading for help touched everyone's heart.
  • His pleading for forgiveness was sincere and heartfelt.
Context #3 | Adjective

informal

expressing sorrow or sadness

Synonyms

beseeching, imploring, supplicating.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
pleading

Used when someone is desperately begging or asking for something, often in emotional or urgent situations.

  • She was pleading for her life
  • He was pleading with the judge to show mercy
imploring

Indicates desperation and a heartfelt request, often used when someone is in a dire situation and really needs help.

  • Her eyes were imploring him to stay
  • He wrote an imploring letter asking for forgiveness
beseeching

Implies an earnest, almost formal request, often with a sense of humility or urgency.

  • She gave him a beseeching look that he could not ignore
  • The villagers were beseeching the king for help during the famine
supplicating

Has a formal and somewhat old-fashioned tone, used for sincere and humble petitions, often with a religious or solemn undertone.

  • They were supplicating for rain during the drought
  • The monk spent hours supplicating for guidance

Examples of usage

  • Her pleading eyes revealed the pain she was feeling.
  • His pleading voice conveyed the depths of his emotions.

Translations

Translations of the word "pleading" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น sรบplica

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคตเคฟเคจเคคเฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Bitte

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ permohonan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฑะปะฐะณะฐะฝะฝั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ bล‚aganie

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅ˜†้ก˜ (ใŸใ‚“ใŒใ‚“)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท supplication

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ sรบplica

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท yalvarma

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ฐ„์ฒญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุชูˆุณู„

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ prosba

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ prosbou

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆณๆฑ‚ (kฤ›nqiรบ)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ proลกnja

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ sรกrbรฆn

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะฐะปะฑะฐั€ัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ—แƒฎแƒแƒ•แƒœแƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ yalvarฤฑลŸ

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ sรบplica

Etymology

The word 'pleading' originated from the Old French word 'pleindre' which means 'to complain'. Over time, it evolved to mean making an emotional appeal or request. The concept of pleading has been an essential part of legal systems and interpersonal communication for centuries, reflecting the universal human need to express emotions and seek understanding.

See also: pleader.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,947 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.