ADVERSITY Synonyms: 93 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'adversity' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of adversity are mischance , misfortune , and mishap . While all these words mean "adverse fortune or an instance of this," adversity applies to a state of grave or persistent misfortune. // had never experienced great adversity

Q: When is it sensible to use 'mischance' instead of 'adversity'?

The words mischance and adversity are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mischance applies especially to a situation involving no more than slight inconvenience or minor annoyance. // took the wrong road by mischance

Q: When might 'misfortune' be a better fit than 'adversity'?

The meanings of misfortune and adversity largely overlap; however, misfortune may apply to either the incident or conjunction of events that is the cause of an unhappy change of fortune or to the ensuing state of distress. // never lost hope even in the depths of misfortune

Q: When can 'mishap' be used instead of 'adversity'?

The synonyms mishap and adversity are sometimes interchangeable, but mishap applies to an often trivial instance of bad luck. // the usual mishaps of a family vacation

adversity

noun

ad-ˈvər-sə-tē

Definition of adversity next

as in misfortune

bad luck or an example of this many people came face-to-face with life-altering adversity when the stock market crashed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hardship

something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal some overcame all the adversities of the Great Depression and rebuilt their fortunes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun adversity differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of adversity are mischance, misfortune, and mishap. While all these words mean "adverse fortune or an instance of this," adversity applies to a state of grave or persistent misfortune.

had never experienced great adversity

When is it sensible to use mischance instead of adversity?

The words mischance and adversity are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mischance applies especially to a situation involving no more than slight inconvenience or minor annoyance.

took the wrong road by mischance

When might misfortune be a better fit than adversity?

The meanings of misfortune and adversity largely overlap; however, misfortune may apply to either the incident or conjunction of events that is the cause of an unhappy change of fortune or to the ensuing state of distress.

never lost hope even in the depths of misfortune

When can mishap be used instead of adversity?

The synonyms mishap and adversity are sometimes interchangeable, but mishap applies to an often trivial instance of bad luck.

the usual mishaps of a family vacation

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of adversity Meanwhile, Gigi starts negotiating a deal for her boutique with a Haitian businessman named Thomas (Andy Lucien), who encourages her to spin stories about how her wares were made by Haitian women who have faced adversity in order to sell them at a higher markup. —

Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2024 How a young player responds to adversity often defines his career. —

Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2024 Small business owners, like Tod Wilson, shared stories of struggle and overcoming adversity. —

Jordyn Holman, New York Times, 18 Oct. 2024 Cacao trees are sensitive to environmental changes and don’t produce beans well in diverse conditions and extreme weather, which is bringing adversity to farmers and the chocolate business. —

Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for adversity

Recent Examples of Synonyms for adversity

Noun

In popular belief, Zhong Kui is a powerful guard against evil spirits, particularly on New Year’s Day and at the Double Fifth’s Festival, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, when his image is hung in households to prevent occupants from being met with diseases or other misfortunes.

Chadd Scott, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Five years after being crowned Queen of the North, Sophie Turner is back on TV playing another desperate woman pushed to her limits by men and misfortune.

Andy Swift, TVLine, 2 Oct. 2024