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
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
19 June 2026
Spencer Pratt continued his plight to save Los Angeles only days after conceding in the mayoral race against incumbent Karen Bass.
—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Gina Lee Castro,
Journal Sentinel,
11 Oct. 2024
Not for months, but for years, plighting their troth.
—
Guy Martin,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for plight
Noun
So the plight of clerks, probation officers and public defenders who work for the judicial branch felt personal.
—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
19 June 2026
Spencer Pratt continued his plight to save Los Angeles only days after conceding in the mayoral race against incumbent Karen Bass.
—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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
See All Example Sentences for plight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plight
Noun
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The upshot of Yale’s report, which is by far the most self-critical of the three, is that administrators bear much of the responsibility for higher education’s current predicament.
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What to read next Once the initial excitement of weightlessness has worn off, the kids realize the true extent of their predicament.
Verb
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At a moment when technology companies were promising to bring people closer together, David Fincher’s acerbic drama about the founding of Facebook had a darker theory about why people wanted to connect in the first place.
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Someone may need clarification around timing, support, or what was actually promised.
Noun
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If that conversation also seems too anxiety-provoking, focus on modes of communication that do feel accessible to you.
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The resulting anxiety and panic are an unfortunate side effect of a banner year for fireworks shows.
Verb
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Proponents of a tax on California billionaires vowed on Thursday to move forward with their November ballot measure despite mounting opposition from many of the state’s most powerful political forces.
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Multiple opposition groups quickly put out statements vowing to beat the billionaire’s tax after the measure had officially qualified.
Noun
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Robin Hood’s fame is like a boomerang, coming back at him as an inconvenience rather than a moral dilemma.
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Contrary to popular belief, bees aren't just a summertime inconvenience.
Verb
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Right now, these properties are not being resold or mortgaged.
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Bridges, also brought in before 2024-25, could frustrate Knicks supporters, mostly because team president Leon Rose mortgaged the future on him.
Noun
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In great detail and with candid memories, the book narrates the trials, tribulations, and tragedies from the band’s formation in 1984 through the current day, including emotional and personal reflections on the life and death of one of its own superheroes, Chris Cornell.
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But Johnson, a West Sider and member of the nondemonational Lawndale Christian Community Church, has frequently leaned on his base within the Black church during times of tribulation in office.
Verb
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The two got engaged in 2014 and have remained affianced since.
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Alexandra Crotin, a rep for Stone, later confirmed to USA TODAY the actress and writer are now affianced.
Cite this Entry
“Plight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plight. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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