English vocabulary · B2
Plight
/plaɪt/ · n.
It means a bad situation, often dangerous or sad, with no easy way out.
Watch the Plight lessonContinue in the learning app for video lessons and review.
Example sentences
- The lost hikers faced a dangerous plight.
- Losing her job left her in a plight.
Word origin and roots
from Old English
- pliht — danger (from Old English)
Synonyms and nuances
- PREDICAMENT — hard situation to escape (A Tricky, Awkward Situation)
- HARDSHIP — difficult, painful conditions (Ongoing Struggle Or Suffering)
- QUANDARY — not knowing what to do (A Confusing Dilemma)
Similar words
- predicament
- hardship
- quandary
Lesson notes
Plight. It means a bad situation, often dangerous or sad, with no easy way out.
Related: predicament, hardship, quandary. Use plight when facing an unfair situation.
The lost hikers faced a dangerous plight. Losing her job left her in a plight.
From Old English. Pliht- means danger. A dangerous situation with no way out, that is plight.