plights 1 of 2

noun

plural of plight
as in anxieties
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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plights

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of plight
as in promises

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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 plights
Noun
Over lunch at the Santa Clara Hilton — a short drive from 49ers headquarters — Edwards shared about the plights of outspoken athletes such as Wilma Rudolph, Jesse Owens, Rose Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Tommie Smith, John Carlos and more. — Mike Jones, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 The movie, which will premiere June 10 at the fest, dramatizes the plights of Iranian civilians weeks before the United States and Israel invaded the country this year. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2026 At great personal risk, Hadi connected me with dissidents, political prisoners, and their relatives, who all described their plights as the regime’s repressive campaign escalated in the weeks leading up to the war. — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026 Given the tyrannical inferno that engulfed these precariously united states, my personal plights were mere embers, ashes, in the grand scheme of things. — Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026 Then again, that slightly generic quality never impinges on the film’s characterizations, and allows viewers to extrapolate the finer points of this story to the plights of so many other refugees, from Syria and elsewhere. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2026 The particular bodily plights of the thirty-something jock don’t stem simply from the inherent risk imbued in competitive sports. — Grace Perry, Outside, 1 Jan. 2026 Our reviewer was captivated by the evocative writing and moved by the characters’ plights. — Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 13 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plights
  1. predicaments
  2. promises
  3. tribulations
  4. mortgages
  5. inconveniences
  6. vows
  7. frustrations
  8. irritants
Noun
  • The same storm would leave them in very different predicaments, with very different paths to recovery.
    — Dylan Connor, The Conversation, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The relentless rain associated with Hurricane Isaias didn’t stop some hikers from venturing onto trails and greenways in North Carolina, leading to life-threatening predicaments, officials say.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of predicaments
Verb
  • Their union promises to challenge society’s conventions further in season 4, fitting for a character who has never been afraid to ruffle feathers.
    — Paul Chi, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Rama helps Sugriva regain the throne, and Sugriva promises to mobilize the vanara army to help find Sita.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of promises
Noun
  • Not surprisingly, when Christa-Maria’s tribulations are captured on the video screen, Knightley’s close-ups are sensational.
    — Demetrios Matheou, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Supporters say there are sufficient protections to prevent the county from experiencing the financial tribulations that Vallejo suffered in part because of binding arbitration.
    — Jon Regardie, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of tribulations
Verb
  • So my guess/belief/thought is that the executive trio is hoping for the best this year, but is unwilling to do anything that mortgages future seasons.
    — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 9 July 2026
  • Those are the players in recent memory who’ve commanded the kind of draft capital that reshapes franchises — the sort of seismic move that mortgages a future and, in return, attaches expectations normally reserved for franchise-carrying superstars.
    — Kristian Winfield, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2026
Definition of mortgages
Noun
  • Surveys have repeatedly shown that Americans don't like the current clock changes, with lawmakers and physicians blaming the regular time shifts for drowsiness, inconveniences and even risks to health.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • In addition to traditional cancellation and interruption protection, the plan includes medical coverage, emergency evacuation benefits and reimbursement for certain travel inconveniences.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of inconveniences
Verb
  • In every case, the candidate under consideration vows to go to Washington, or to Lansing, and put the people ahead of politics.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
  • McKinney would prioritize public safety and vows to go after demonstrators who block freeways or engage in conduct similar to the 2024 pro-Palestine encampments on UCLA’s campus.
    — Times staff, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of vows
Noun
  • The senator said that Democrats campaigned heavily on affordability and economic frustrations but will now pursue priorities that are disconnected from what motivated voters to support them this year.
    — Jennifer Radcliffe, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2026
  • What readers are saying The conversation explores the challenges and frustrations faced by job seekers, particularly in fields impacted by AI and automation.
    — Adeline Von Drehle, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of frustrations
Noun
  • That benefit is amplified by the addition of 2% ectoin, a protective ingredient that defends skin against external irritants (like pollutants) and internal stressors (like hormonal changes) alike.
    — Deanna Pai, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Over time, inhaling these irritants can trigger chronic airway inflammation, irreversible lung tissue scarring, and obstructive pulmonary conditions.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritants

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Cite this Entry

“Plights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plights. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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