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

Example 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 Nevertheless, the adversity Purdy faced throughout the season only proved his worth to San Francisco. Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025 Happiness, after all, isn’t always our goal, and Disney’s films feature a breath of emotions, including a number that focus on finding strength in adversity. Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025 Thriving after having faced extreme adversity is core to Marine Electric Systems culture, and to the US Navy itself. Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 13 May 2025 Recognizing that there are opportunities hidden in every adversity, Dobey conceptualized Hibe, a social platform with a focus on news. Nia Bowers, USA Today, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for adversity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adversity
Noun
  • Despite the simple words and soft pastel illustrations, the similarities between Sarah's real-life drama and the misfortunes that befall the cute, innocent forest animals are undeniable.
    Maureen Maher, CBS News, 23 May 2025
  • Aniston plays Tory, who has the misfortune of finding herself in his sights.
    Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Defined as stress or anxiety tied to past financial hardships, financial trauma does not always look like bankruptcy or foreclosure.
    Alejandra Rojas, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • Restaurant closures can occur for numerous reasons, including financial hardships like debt and bankruptcy, or a shift in consumer preferences that correlate with brand restructuring.
    Nick Mordowanec Kate Nalepinski, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • And a drowning tragedy struck a TikTok influencer's family.
    Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • More crucially, comedy and tragedy are allowed to coexist as parallel realities.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Flip invented the Wheezer Scale for gauging the difficulty of hiking up hills.
    Flip Putthoff, Arkansas Online, 20 May 2025
  • McCann compounds this difficulty by only sparingly engaging with digital life.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 19 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Adversity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adversity. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on adversity

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