PLIGHTS Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

plights

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of plight

as in promises

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

reneges

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

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

On the screen, in a series of daredevil adventures, the actor had extricated himself from a hundred impossible predicaments.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Aemond, too, for that matter, while Daemon’s arrogance continues to get Team Black into all sorts of predicaments.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of predicaments

Verb

Bonnell claims more than 80 mph at the top end, while the enormous rear-wheel torque figure promises the sort of low-speed shove that makes technical riding interesting.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
The Netflix series promises to adapt the entire novel in a more complete form.

— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of promises

Noun

Irene can do the hard things and get through whatever tribulations get thrown her way.

— Liz Rosenberg, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026
This restores a portion of their old fortune to Magdalen as well (from her deceased husband Noel), ending the Vanstones’ tribulations for good.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 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

Verb

Cathy Engelbert will step down as WNBA commissioner at year’s end after more than seven years, but vows to stay on temporarily if a successor isn’t found.

— Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Their parents, Maggie Baird and Patrick O’Connell, were also there to watch their son exchange vows.

— Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of vows

Noun

The past few weeks have seen the former host of To Catch a Predator repeatedly voice his frustrations with Oppenheim’s Primetime, A24’s dark thriller that will explore the origins of Hansen’s controversial Dateline segment.

— Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
The festering frustrations over Moreno’s meddling and middling tenure as owner were on full display throughout what is now the team’s 11th consecutive losing season.

— Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of frustrations

Noun

As federal agents increasingly used chemical irritants on crowds, Michael Cavlan began spending less time patrolling and more time treating people who’d been hurt.

— Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Carney also said that Washington viewed protections for French and Canadian culture — considered fundamental rights in Canada — as irritants to trade.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of irritants

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

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Synonyms of plights

noun

verb

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