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
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
Indeed, for all its minor-key notes and self-effacing comedy, this is really a very serious film about loss, and while the plight of a petty street thief might seem like the least of our worries, Sagan’s film wants to capture these dark moments; in a Diane Arbus way, before they’re gone.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 27 Jan. 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
This logic applies to the plight of city retirees.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
Indeed, for all its minor-key notes and self-effacing comedy, this is really a very serious film about loss, and while the plight of a petty street thief might seem like the least of our worries, Sagan’s film wants to capture these dark moments; in a Diane Arbus way, before they’re gone.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 27 Jan. 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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Young is one of a number of players who find themselves in this predicament, star-level talents whose production, in one way, shape or form, falls short of the cost of doing business.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
30 Jan. 2026
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Then Culhane’s hat finds itself in a similar predicament.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Under political and donor duress, some schools have adopted statements promising institutional neutrality on issues of the day — even those about which administrators, faculty and students may be most vocal.—
Richard K. Vedder,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
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The outside cash backing them likely represents the tip of the iceberg this year, observers said — especially in the first competitive Democratic governor’s race in over a decade where one candidate doesn’t promise to steamroll the competition’s spending with self-funding.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This year, anxiety over the federal government and a wavering stock market is making people less secure in their finances, causing some tenants to move in with family or friends — leaving studio and one-bedroom apartments empty.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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The nonprofit, formerly known as Sattvic Meals Foundation, aims to address hunger anxiety at community colleges.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Democrats have vowed not to support the funding measure unless there are guardrails placed on the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
30 Jan. 2026
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Sources with knowledge of the meeting say midfielder Edson Alvarez, who is on a season-long loan at Turkish side Fenerbahce, vowed to protect the midfielder on the pitch.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Her parents pay for her apartment in a Brooklyn brownstone, and her biggest inconvenience seems to be that her sister has decided to live there, too — in the spare bedroom that’s not even in use.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Jan. 2026
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But the change may pose inconveniences for some homeowners without computers.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The future has not been mortgaged here; the Sharks just decided to stop hoarding every single chip.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
19 Jan. 2026
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Is that enough of a sample size to mortgage the team’s future?—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Current totals of seven league goals and four assists suggest those early-season tribulations have been vanquished.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Such tribulations have hidden the kind of personal growth that Kerr has undergone as a coach, even if the record does not indicate it.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
25 Dec. 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
Cite this Entry
“Plight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plight. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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