diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 382bd8b31..39bc0112e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -337,8 +337,12 @@ ## General Options:
                                     configuration files
     --plugin-dirs PATH              Path to an additional directory to search
                                     for plugins. This option can be used
-                                    multiple times to add multiple directories
-    --no-plugins                    Disable plugin loading
+                                    multiple times to add multiple directories.
+                                    Use "default" to search the default plugin
+                                    directories (default)
+    --no-plugin-dirs                Clear plugin directories to search,
+                                    including defaults and those provided by
+                                    previous --plugin-dirs
     --flat-playlist                 Do not extract a playlist's URL result
                                     entries; some entry metadata may be missing
                                     and downloading may be bypassed
diff --git a/test/test_plugins.py b/test/test_plugins.py
index 6499ed615..84e45e6e2 100644
--- a/test/test_plugins.py
+++ b/test/test_plugins.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     load_plugins,
     load_all_plugins,
     register_plugin_spec,
-    disable_plugins,
+    clear_plugins,
 )
 
 from yt_dlp.globals import (
@@ -236,8 +236,8 @@ def test_append_plugin_dirs(self):
         self.assertIn(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.extractor.package', sys.modules.keys())
         self.assertIn('PackagePluginIE', plugin_ies.value)
 
-    def test_disable_plugins(self):
-        disable_plugins()
+    def test_clear_plugins(self):
+        clear_plugins()
         ies = load_plugins(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
         self.assertEqual(ies, {})
         self.assertNotIn(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.extractor.normal', sys.modules.keys())
@@ -248,13 +248,13 @@ def test_disable_plugins(self):
         self.assertNotIn(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.postprocessor.normal', sys.modules.keys())
         self.assertNotIn('NormalPluginPP', plugin_pps.value)
 
-    def test_disable_plugins_already_loaded(self):
+    def test_clear_plugins_already_loaded(self):
         register_plugin_spec(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
         register_plugin_spec(POSTPROCESSOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
         load_all_plugins()
 
         with self.assertRaises(YoutubeDLError):
-            disable_plugins()
+            clear_plugins()
 
         ies = load_plugins(EXTRACTOR_PLUGIN_SPEC)
         self.assertIn('NormalPluginIE', ies)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
index ad69268a6..9f5e4369c 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -4095,12 +4095,15 @@ def get_encoding(stream):
                 continue
             write_debug(f'{plugin_type} Plugins: {", ".join(sorted(display_list))}')
 
+        plugin_dirs_msg = 'none'
         if not plugin_dirs.value:
-            write_debug('Plugins are disabled')
+            plugin_dirs_msg = 'none (disabled)'
         else:
-            loaded_plugin_directories = plugin_directories()
-            if loaded_plugin_directories:
-                write_debug(f'Plugin directories: {loaded_plugin_directories}')
+            found_plugin_directories = plugin_directories()
+            if found_plugin_directories:
+                plugin_dirs_msg = ', '.join(found_plugin_directories)
+
+        write_debug(f'Plugin directories: {plugin_dirs_msg}')
 
     @functools.cached_property
     def proxies(self):
diff --git a/yt_dlp/options.py b/yt_dlp/options.py
index e797f5407..38e30f7c6 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/options.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/options.py
@@ -416,13 +416,14 @@ def _alias_callback(option, opt_str, value, parser, opts, nargs):
         default=['default'],
         help=(
             'Path to an additional directory to search for plugins. '
-            'This option can be used multiple times to add multiple directories'))
+            'This option can be used multiple times to add multiple directories. '
+            'Use "default" to search the default plugin directories (default)'))
     general.add_option(
-        '--no-plugins',
+        '--no-plugin-dirs',
         dest='plugin_dirs',
         action='store_const',
         const=[],
-        help='Disable plugin loading')
+        help='Clear plugin directories to search, including defaults and those provided by previous --plugin-dirs')
     general.add_option(
         '--flat-playlist',
         action='store_const', dest='extract_flat', const='in_playlist', default=False,
diff --git a/yt_dlp/plugins.py b/yt_dlp/plugins.py
index dbc34f71a..85a0759a7 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/plugins.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/plugins.py
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@
 __all__ = [
     'COMPAT_PACKAGE_NAME',
     'PACKAGE_NAME',
+    'clear_plugins',
     'directories',
-    'disable_plugins',
     'load_all_plugins',
     'load_plugins',
     'register_plugin_spec',
@@ -258,12 +258,12 @@ def register_plugin_spec(plugin_spec: PluginSpec):
         sys.meta_path.insert(0, PluginFinder(f'{PACKAGE_NAME}.{plugin_spec.module_name}'))
 
 
-def disable_plugins():
+def clear_plugins():
     if (
         all_plugins_loaded.value
         or any(len(plugin_spec.plugin_destination.value) != 0 for plugin_spec in plugin_specs.value.values())
     ):
         # note: we can't detect all cases when plugins are loaded (e.g. if spec isn't registered)
-        raise YoutubeDLError('Plugins have already been loaded. Cannot disable plugins after loading plugins.')
+        raise YoutubeDLError('Plugins have already been loaded. Cannot clear plugins after loading plugins.')
 
     plugin_dirs.value = []