as in predicament
a very bad or difficult situation
—usually singular
The recent cut in funding will only contribute to the hospital's financial plight. the plight of the unemployed
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Recent Examples of plight
Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 11 Oct. 2024
Not for months, but for years, plighting their troth.
—Guy Martin, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
The plights of Paetongtarn and Arnon may seem distant.
—Tyrell Haberkorn, The Conversation, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for plight
Noun
Latino history in the U.S. is plighted with systemic issues from mass deportations in the 1920s and 1930s, to poor working conditions for farm workers, to segregated schools, to arrests and stereotypes during the war on drugs.
—Gina Lee Castro, Journal Sentinel, 11 Oct. 2024
Not for months, but for years, plighting their troth.
—Guy Martin, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Verb
Maybe my limbic system was relaying intense sympathy for my grandfather’s plight, nothing more.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
The plights of Paetongtarn and Arnon may seem distant.
—Tyrell Haberkorn, The Conversation, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for plight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plight
Noun
-
After announcing their predicament on social media on June 13, fans rallied support.—
Bahar Anooshahr,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
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Luckily, Wayfair solved this predicament with its new apartment storefront, packed with storage solutions for living in a small space.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
People.com,
19 July 2025
Verb
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The South by Southwest Conference and Festival is often populated with splashy activations from companies promising groundbreaking tech in the near future.—
Beck Andrew Salgado,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
-
But the quality should extend into Days 2 and 3 with promising linebacker talent.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
Noun
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Here are seven alternative activities to try that experts say can be just as effective: Research shows that expressive art therapy, like painting, may help reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety, increase self-esteem, and improve mood by engaging areas of the brain that promote calm.—
Noma Nazish,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
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Driving this new trend, brokers and builders agree, is a potent mix of global anxiety and cultural influence.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
29 July 2025
Verb
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President Donald Trump has sought to end temporary legal status for hundreds of thousands of migrants in the United States and vowed to deport millions of undocumented people in the country.—
Doyinsola Oladipo,
USA Today,
21 July 2025
-
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vowed to stay in his post after his ruling bloc was projected to lose its majority in the country’s upper house of parliament.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
20 July 2025
Noun
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In the meantime, inbound and outbound travelers can expect some temporary inconveniences as construction begins on the atrium infill project near the airport’s baggage carousels.—
Alex Driggars,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
-
The airline apologizes for the inconvenience caused.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
28 July 2025
Verb
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As often as the home would appear in one of Cassavetes and Rowlands’ films, it would be mortgaged to free up funds to make another one.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
9 July 2025
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Scouting in stealth: Heat scouring for success (if) at No. 20 in NBA draft ASK IRA: Is practicing prudence essential in Heat not mortgaging future in a Durant deal?—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
The two got engaged in 2014 and have remained affianced since.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
Peoplemag,
5 May 2023
-
Alexandra Crotin, a rep for Stone, later confirmed to USA TODAY the actress and writer are now affianced.—
Charles Trepany,
USA TODAY,
5 Dec. 2019
Verb
-
Most people swear by Arnold's Country Kitchen, and that's a wonderful spot to get your Southern food fix.—
Mackensy Lunsford,
The Tennessean,
26 July 2025
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Hager isn't the only on-air personality to use profanity during a live show, as the cohosts of The View are often censored — and, in Sara Haines' case, sometimes not — for swearing during their shows, too.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plight. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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