pleas
Defendants' formal answers
Pleas is the plural of plea—an urgent request or appeal: Her pleas for help went unanswered.
In legal contexts, pleas are formal responses to charges: The defendants entered their pleas.
The word often carries emotional weight, suggesting desperation or earnestness: Despite his pleas, she refused to reconsider.
Earnest, urgent request
- supplicationHumble plea for help
- imploringUrgently requesting with emotion
- beggingEarnest desperate requesting
- beseechingUrgently pleading for something
urging · desperation · heartfelt · fervent · earnest · passionate · cry · outcry
Charge-reading court session
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- defendantParty facing charges
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
verdict · guilty · not guilty · allocution · sentencing · mitigation · courtroom · trial
Address to deity
- supplicationHumble plea for help
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
litany · petition · benediction · piety · worship · veneration · reverence · faith
Merciful treatment of offenders
- leniencyMildness in punishment
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- compassionConcern for others' distress
reprieve · amnesty · absolution · mitigation · sympathy · pity · grace · forbearance
entreaty
Earnest, urgent request
- supplicationHumble plea for help
- imploringUrgently requesting with emotion
- beggingEarnest desperate requesting
beseeching · urging · desperation · heartfelt · fervent · earnest · passionate · cry · outcry · call
arraignment
Charge-reading court session
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- defendantParty facing charges
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
testimony · verdict · guilty · not guilty · allocution · sentencing · mitigation · courtroom · trial · attorney
prayer
Address to deity
- supplicationHumble plea for help
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
- invocationCalling upon higher authority
devotion · litany · petition · benediction · piety · worship · veneration · reverence · faith · spirituality
clemency
Merciful treatment of offenders
- leniencyMildness in punishment
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
compassion · reprieve · amnesty · absolution · mitigation · sympathy · pity · grace · forbearance · exoneration
- legallawyer, judge, jury, trial, verdict
- pleasprayers, entreaty, petitions, appeals, requests
- court recordscourt documents, court transcripts, court records, court cases, court record
- criminal justicearrest, jail, court, prison, crime
- criminal courtcriminal court, judge, jury, trial, verdict
- criminal courtstrials, courtroom, verdicts, defendants, accused
pleasdemands
Forceful requests or requirements
commands · orders · dictates · ultimatums · decrees
pleasgrants
Awarded funds for purposes
concessions · offerings · dispensations · bestowals · gifts
- my pleasureGracious response to gratitude
- please help meRequest for intervention
- pretty pleaseEmphatic polite request
- guilty pleasureEnjoyment tinged with shame
- oh pleaseDismissive exclamation of doubt
- pleased to meet youFormal greeting upon introduction
please, pleasure, pleasant, pleasing, pleased, unpleasant, plea, pleasantly, displeasure