apologize vs plead

apologize and plead both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
apologize	No	No	Yes	No
plead	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, plead is a hyponym of apologize; that is, plead is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than apologize:

Other hyponyms of apologize include color, colour, gloss, extenuate, mitigate, palliate.

apologize (verb)	plead (verb)
acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing	appeal or request earnestly
defend, explain, clear away, or make excuses for by reasoning	enter a plea, as in courts of law
	offer as an excuse or plea
	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