plight
7 synonyms for plight, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A difficult, distressing situation.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A difficult, distressing situation.
“The charity drew attention to the plight of refugees.”
How to use plight
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
dire plight
the plight of
Etymology
From Old English pliht ("danger, risk"), blended with an Old French word meaning "condition" or "fold." Related to pledge.
Full origin of plight →Frequently asked questions
What does “plight” mean?
The word “plight” means a difficult, distressing situation. In plain terms, a tough, often desperate, situation someone finds themselves in.
How do you pronounce “plight”?
“Plight” is pronounced plyt (/plaɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “plight” in a sentence?
Here is “plight” used in a sentence: “The charity drew attention to the plight of refugees.”
What part of speech is “plight”?
Depending on how it is used, “plight” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “plight” come from?
The word “plight” comes from Old French. From Old English pliht ("danger, risk"), blended with an Old French word meaning "condition" or "fold." Related to pledge.
Is “plight” a common word?
“Plight” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “plight” have?
“Plight” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a difficult, distressing situation.
