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
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Ann Larson, Time, 11 June 2026
The plight of his friend moved Byers.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 8 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
Advertisement Occasionally, the plight of elderly retail workers breaks into popular culture.
—Ann Larson, Time, 11 June 2026
The plight of his friend moved Byers.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 8 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
-
The Riverdale alum explains his character's complicated predicament, which leads to his unraveling.—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 June 2026
-
That would have been a real predicament.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
McAfee resolved the charges, promising that the farm wouldn’t sell raw milk across state lines again.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
The funding will also allow the company to manufacture doses of its vaccine in parallel so that larger phase 2/3 trials can begin quickly if phase 1 data are promising.—
Paul Adepoju,
Scientific American,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
For young children, anxiety might show up as physical complaints like tummy aches or headaches, while older kids may feel nervous and struggle to concentrate.—
Kimberly Zapata,
Parents,
14 June 2026
-
Tasks can include smelling dangerously high or low glucose levels, smelling mood swings, anxiety and depression, smelling an impending seizure and many other tasks.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Starmer has vowed to fight any leadership contest, deepening the sense of crisis within the Labour Party.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
-
Ospreay has vowed to finally wrap the top AEW title around his waist.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Individuals who have relied on an account for years may dread the inconvenience of changing their paycheck direct deposit or automatic bill pay.—
Wes Moss,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
The World Cup’s arrival in South Florida comes with some inconveniences for drivers.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
But will mortgage rates actually drop after this week's Fed meeting?—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
Bridges, also brought in before 2024-25, could frustrate Knicks supporters, mostly because team president Leon Rose mortgaged the future on him.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
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.—
Selena Fragassi,
SPIN,
9 June 2026
-
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.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Plight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plight. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
