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
The Know, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
The film’s chief sin is its effortful posture of compassion for the plight of these boys, and those like them in the real world.
—Richard Lawson, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 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
This story of Fagin highlights the cruelty of discrimination, the plight of the poor and the importance of role models.
—The Know, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
The film’s chief sin is its effortful posture of compassion for the plight of these boys, and those like them in the real world.
—Richard Lawson, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plight
Noun
-
The city’s current trash predicament traces back to Measure B, a successful 2022 city ballot measure that ended the decades-long practice of San Diego providing no-fee trash service to single-family homes and many small townhome and apartment complexes.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Sep. 2025
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Although Harold is not literary fiction’s first obsessive ruminator, what makes Muscle Man feel so plugged into the moment is how common the predicament feels.—
Jeremy Gordon,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Trump promised during the 2024 presidential campaign to release the files in their entirety and Patel before taking the FBI job had pushed unsubstantiated claims about who was in them.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
16 Sep. 2025
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But experts said insufficient oversight has undermined the protections promised to visa holders.—
Max Blau,
ProPublica,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Add in the possibility of more extensive – and costly – work such as bridges, crowns, extractions or implants, and the anxiety can grow even stronger.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The enthusiasm around personal curriculums and independent learning might reflect modern-day anxieties.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Memorials have been held in Washington, Arizona, and Utah, with Kirk's widow vowing to continue his work.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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Students for Fair Admissions, led by Edward Blum, a leading opponent of affirmative action, set up a website this month vowing to challenge Kamehameha’s admissions policy in court.—
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Already, Zarutska’s story has become a dog whistle for many on the right and an inconvenience for those on the left.—
Chicago Tribune,
Twin Cities,
11 Sep. 2025
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The RemigoOne Neo gives small e-boaters a little more oomph without any of the inconvenience of a larger, bulkier electric or gas outboard.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Since the market decline in the last few years, many developers have not had the cash to finish building the homes that many households have already mortgaged.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
31 Aug. 2025
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Singh originally entered the U.S. illegally in 2018 after mortgaging his land in India, was detained by Border Patrol, and released on $5,000 bond, the New York Post reported.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The two got engaged in 2014 and have remained affianced since.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
Peoplemag,
5 May 2023
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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
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Keep scrolling for the products our editors swear by.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
10 Sep. 2025
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Laura confronts Cherry about Nicholas and swears to tell Daniel everything.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plight. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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