Meaning & use

plight

noun·Academic

A difficult, dangerous, or unfortunate situation that a person or group finds themselves in.

See it in a sentence

The documentary drew attention to the plight of refugees stranded at the border.

Neighbors organized a fundraiser after learning of the family's plight following the fire.

A note on using this word

Plight nearly always describes a serious or distressing situation; it would sound odd to use it for a minor inconvenience.

Words with a similar meaning

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Make it your own

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