mishap

noun

mis·hap | \ ˈmis-ˌhap

, mis-ˈ\

Definition of mishap

1 : an unfortunate accident The fire was a tragic mishap that could have been prevented.

2 : bad luck : misfortune The ceremony proceeded without mishap.

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about mishap

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Choose the Right Synonym for mishap

misfortune, mischance, adversity, mishap mean adverse fortune or an instance of this. 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 mischance applies especially to a situation involving no more than slight inconvenience or minor annoyance. took the wrong road by mischance adversity applies to a state of grave or persistent misfortune. had never experienced great adversity mishap applies to an often trivial instance of bad luck. the usual mishaps of a family vacation

Examples of mishap in a Sentence

We experienced the usual mishaps of a family vacation. The ceremony proceeded without mishap. The fire was a tragic mishap that could have been prevented.

Recent Examples on the Web

Then came the jarring news of Mr. Northam’s costume mishap and moonwalking incidents, which instantly converted him into a political untouchable deserted by everyone but his shadow. — Dave Shiflett, WSJ, "Virginia’s Confederacy of Dunces," 7 Feb. 2019 That, plus Quantic Dream finally broadens its sights to PC games once again, Overwatch players learn piano, another bizarre Fallout 76 patch mishap, Subnautica’s icy adventures, and more. — Hayden Dingman, PCWorld, "This week in games: The sordid tale of Starbreeze's stumbles, Overwatch players learn piano (with guns)," 1 Feb. 2019 The first season drolly mines dating mishaps for laughs, as Isobel gets rejected by a lesbian for having dated a man, and gradually becomes comfortable with public affection for other women. — Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, "Coming out is anything but tragic in funny new LGBTQ movies, TV shows," 21 June 2018 Regardless of the reason, Jamil thought the mishap was hilarious. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Jameela Jamil Wore Jeans to the Golden Globes—Under Her Gown," 7 Jan. 2019 Though there were no fatalities, the mishaps were significant enough in most cases to receive media coverage and be addressed publicly by China’s aviation authority and the airlines involved. — Trefor Moss, WSJ, "Engine Trouble: Chinese Airline Mishaps Put Spotlight on Pilots," 24 Nov. 2018 The occasional escapes and other mishaps on this live program greatly contributed to its entertainment value. — New York Times, "Don’t Try to Catch a Komodo Dragon — Unless You’re David Attenborough," 29 May 2018 Car and industrial accidents, as well as many other mishaps, can also lead to life-threatening bleeding. — Shari Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "You've heard of CPR. Here's another way you could save lives: Stop the Bleed.," 30 Mar. 2018 April Phillips, a spokeswoman for the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk, Virginia, said there have been 25 serious mishaps involving F/A-18 Super Hornets since fiscal year 2008. — Bloomberg.com, "Navy Jet Crashes Off Key West, Killing 2 Crew Members," 16 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mishap.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.