1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of adversity
The 2025 Guardians became a gold standard for overcoming adversity, a team that flipped its season upside down after enduring a 10-game skid and a morale-shattering gambling scandal.
—
Zack Meisel, New York Times, 11 June 2026
To get ahead of any adversity or rate hikes looming for later this year, lenders may increase their rate offers now or in the days ahead.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 10 June 2026
The Harvard Study of Adult Development, spanning nearly 80 years, shows that strong social bonds protect individuals from life's adversities, and are better predictors of long and happy lives than intelligence, genetics, and certainly money.
—David H. Rosmarin, Time, 10 June 2026
The pair became friends, and Hasley went on to help write a book about Jenner’s philosophy on overcoming adversity in sports and life.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for adversity
Zack Meisel, New York Times, 11 June 2026
To get ahead of any adversity or rate hikes looming for later this year, lenders may increase their rate offers now or in the days ahead.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 10 June 2026
The Harvard Study of Adult Development, spanning nearly 80 years, shows that strong social bonds protect individuals from life's adversities, and are better predictors of long and happy lives than intelligence, genetics, and certainly money.
—David H. Rosmarin, Time, 10 June 2026
The pair became friends, and Hasley went on to help write a book about Jenner’s philosophy on overcoming adversity in sports and life.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for adversity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adversity
Noun
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Repairing Furniture There are few misfortunes greater than scratching a new piece of dark wood furniture.—
Joey Skladany,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
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The Italian’s misfortune opened the door for teammate Russell to snatch P2 while Lando Norris in the McLaren took home third place, forming the first all-British podium since 1968.—
Yara Elshebiny,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Noun
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The couples who navigate advanced prostate cancer most successfully aren’t the ones who avoid hardship.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
15 June 2026
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CoAction serves individuals and families from infancy through older adulthood who are experiencing financial hardship, working to create a Northwest Indiana where people can flourish regardless of income, ability, or age.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Noun
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Netflix also has a pair of strong four-hour adaptations in the harrowing Lord of the Flies and the darkly comic political tragedy of Death by Lightning.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2026
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Since these leaks are invisible and odorless, a portable carbon monoxide detector is the only way to prevent a tragedy.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
17 June 2026
Noun
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The only opposition came from James Eadie, a licensed pyrotechnic operator, who said hobby rocket users could have difficulty complying with the bill because many local governments do not have permitting processes for storing small quantities of rocket motors.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
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Someone with severe disease can experience confusion, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking and seizures, and the CDC says approximately one in 10 people with severe disease die.—
Emily Vetter,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adversity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adversity. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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