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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Recent Examples of plights
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
Noun
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
Noun
-
Rather than bridging shortfalls, both Seattle and Washington now face more difficult fiscal predicaments, Joblon said.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
-
The madman strategy is for not-crazy leaders caught in adverse predicaments.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This promises to be a mighty event that millions can view in some form — but do many know about it yet?—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
13 June 2026
-
For years, promises that self-driving cars were just around the corner fueled billions in investment.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
13 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
-
The new film, which is both written and directed by the franchise’s longtime screenwriter John Hamburg, sees Grande play Olivia Jones, the fiancé of Pam and Greg Focker’s son who now has to endure the tribulations of meeting the parents (and grandparents) before joining the family.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
Noun
-
The World Cup’s arrival in South Florida comes with some inconveniences for drivers.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
-
While the beach has no facilities—not even trash bins or bathrooms—its turquoise water and soft, nearly pink sand more than make up for any inconveniences.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Xi’s rare Pyongyang visit, his first in seven years, features a lavish welcome and vows to deepen economic and security ties, reaffirming China as North Korea’s primary patron.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
Earlier this month, Matsui’s campaign came after Vang for taking corporate donations from Sacramento-area businesses during her city council campaigns, implying that Vang’s vows to not accept money from corporate PACs in her congressional bid is hypocritical.—
Mathew Miranda
June 4,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Fried issued her statement to the Herald in response to questions about frustrations with the party’s silence on Wasserman Schultz’s run.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
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Those frustrations turned to elation last summer when not only did Uzbekistan finally qualify, but did so with a game to spare when edging out the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in their group.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Chemicals from the fire include respiratory irritants, toxic gases, carcinogens and at least one neurotoxin, according to the San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
The tiny irritants Americans call chiggers are the larval stage of Trombiculidae mites.—
Eva Flowe
June 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plights. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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