ease the plight

USAGE SUMMARY

"ease the plight" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to helping someone in a difficult situation or alleviating a difficult problem. For example, "The government should take measures to ease the plight of the homeless."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

That will mean lower Government revenues and higher Government outlays to ease the plight of the jobless and their families.

The New York Times

John Solecki has long been active in working to ease the plight of refugees, news accounts showed.

The New York Times

It failed, and the President began taking a series of unilateral executive actions designed to ease the plight of the Dreamers.

The New Yorker

An effective U.N. force of 10,000 to 20,000 troops, used this way, could encourage an eventual political settlement and ease the plight of civilians.

The New York Times

So long as Israel occupies the territories, it has a responsibility to ease the plight of the roughly three million Palestinians living there.

The New York Times

One is that unless it is credibly threatened with painful sanctions, such as an oil embargo, the Sudanese government will make no serious attempt to ease the plight of its black African citizens.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

This bill would not have eased the plight of many high-profile cases.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mavis Leno is on the board of the Feminist Majority, an organization that is committed to easing the plight of the women in Afghanistan.

The New York Times

Critics said the Home Secretary should concentrate on easing the plight of thousands of migrants making increasingly desperate attempts to get into Britain through the Channel Tunnel.

Independent

Democrats have campaigned on the issue for the last four years, asserting that Republicans have no real interest in easing the plight of elderly Americans facing soaring drug bills.

The New York Times

That night, Turner announced that he would give a hundred million dollars a year for ten years to support such U.N. programs as the elimination of land mines, providing medicine for children, and easing the plight of refugees.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "ease the plight" with specific details about the group or individuals facing hardship. This adds depth and context to your writing.

Common error

While versatile, "ease the plight" is best reserved for situations involving genuine hardship. Avoid using it in contexts where the difficulties are minor or trivial, as this can diminish the phrase's impact.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ease the plight" is as a verb phrase. It describes the action of making a difficult or painful situation less severe or burdensome, aiming to alleviate suffering. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

2%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ease the plight" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase that describes actions taken to alleviate suffering or improve difficult situations. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to reserve it for situations that genuinely involve hardship. Alternatives like "alleviate the hardship" or "ameliorate the suffering" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. This phrase effectively conveys a sense of urgency and compassion when discussing humanitarian efforts and social issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

alleviate the hardship

Focuses on reducing the severity of difficult conditions.

ease the burden

Focuses specifically on alleviating the weight of a difficult situation.

ameliorate the suffering

Highlights improving the experience of those who are in pain or distress.

mitigate the distress

Emphasizes reducing the level of anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

relieve the burden

Focuses on making something less difficult to bear.

soften the blow

Focuses on reducing the negative impact of a harsh event.

assuage the difficulties

Suggests soothing or lessening the intensity of problems.

lighten the load

Uses a metaphor to describe making something less heavy or troublesome.

improve the circumstances

General expression about enhancing the overall conditions.

better the situation

A more casual way to express making things more positive.

FAQs

How can I use "ease the plight" in a sentence?

You can use "ease the plight" to describe actions taken to alleviate suffering or improve a difficult situation. For example, "The new policy aims to "ease the plight" of refugees".

What are some alternatives to "ease the plight"?

Some alternatives include "alleviate the hardship", "ameliorate the suffering", or "mitigate the distress", depending on the specific context.

Is "ease the plight" formal or informal?

"Ease the plight" is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase, suitable for use in news articles, reports, and academic writing. It is less common in informal conversation.

What is the difference between "ease the plight" and "improve the situation"?

"Ease the plight" specifically suggests reducing suffering or hardship, while "improve the situation" is a more general term that can refer to any kind of positive change. "Ease the plight" carries a stronger connotation of addressing serious problems.