plight 1 of 2

noun

Definition of plightnext
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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plight

2 of 2

verb

as in to promise

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of plight
Noun
Critics say their plight reflected the city’s broader crackdown on dissent that began after Beijing imposed a separate 2020 security law. — Kanis Leung, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Aug. 2026 Venice has never shied away from political controversy, or from films that put the plight of Palestinians on screen. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 Most dramatic was the plight of the USS Abraham Lincoln and its sailors. — John Seiler, Oc Register, 25 Aug. 2026 Eighty years later, with missiles flying in the Middle East, Lara Korte keeps showing up on the front page with stories like one about the plight of military families evacuated from the Persian Gulf. — David Martin, CBS News, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plight
  1. predicament
  2. promise
  3. anxiety
  4. vow
  5. inconvenience
  6. mortgage
  7. tribulation
  8. affiance
Noun
  • Perhaps cognisant of the last time one of his fighters — fellow British heavyweight Fabio Wardley — was in a similar predicament during his bout against Dubois in May.
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • While few family businesses are like the Lakers, the broad strokes of the Buss family's predicament are familiar, according to lawyers who spoke to CNBC.
    — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of predicament
Verb
  • That progression is important because solid-state batteries have faced a difficult transition from promising laboratory cells to reliable, high-volume manufacturing.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Cuffed Jeans Every new season brings a denim trend du jour, and this fall’s lineup is already promising.
    — Jordan Julian, InStyle, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of promise
Noun
  • Common side effects include dizziness, fast heart rate, high blood pressure, anxiety, headache, insomnia and loss of appetite.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Analysts observe that market anxiety surrounding mega-cap tech companies has escalated markedly in recent weeks.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of anxiety
Verb
  • House Democratic leadership is vowing repercussions for two centrists who blindsided Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) by joining with Republicans on Tuesday to force a vote on condemning socialism.
    — Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 2 Sep. 2026
  • But the Venezuela deal further stretches the bounds of its mandate, involving oil instead of a classic critical technology, and has already prompted Democrats to vow to investigate.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of vow
Noun
  • The Lycra Company is taking aim at one of performance apparel’s more visible inconveniences.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • John Cope, executive director of communications for Poudre School District, said officials understand the inconvenience the early releases create.
    — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of inconvenience
Verb
  • And there is anger at being ignored, sidelined, having our economic futures mortgaged by the generations that came before us on everything from the economy to climate.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • How To Say No Without Damaging Relationships Leaders who never build the time management skill of triage put their most important priorities at risk, mortgaging that work in more ways than one.
    — Cynthia Pong, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of mortgage
Noun
  • New York’s summer weather has been a trial and a tribulation, intense heat — temperatures reached over 100 degrees in Central Park on the hottest day in July — alternating with gales and floods.
    — Matthew Schneier, Curbed, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Irene can do the hard things and get through whatever tribulations get thrown her way.
    — Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of tribulation
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
Definition of affiance

Browse Nearby Words

plies (with)
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Cite this Entry

“Plight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plight. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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