1
as in misfortunes
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hardships
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 adversities
The characters on this list go to war — whether real or imaginary — with their circumstances and find a way to turn their adversities into their advantage.
—
Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
Lately a nun, middle-aged Nora Breen moves into a boarding house in a seaside village, slowly healing from the adversities of World War II.
—The Know, Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2025
Each track weaves together themes of resilience and triumph, forging a powerful connection with listeners who have faced their own adversities.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
Sgarbossa makes sure to refer to the man himself, Pierre Balmain, and his resilience to adversities during tumultuous times, able to uplift women through fashion.
—Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
But his rendition of the history of the Axis of Resistance—from its birth out of necessity, to its success, to its present adversities—is largely accurate.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
And there's also, of course, the ability to overcome the adversities life throws our way, which is often where the legend's stuff lies.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
These social adversities could range from violence in the community to insecure housing.
—Malaika Jabali, Essence, 10 Mar. 2025
Olivia, 12, faces family eviction, depression and finds a new community to rebuild her life and overcome adversities.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
Lately a nun, middle-aged Nora Breen moves into a boarding house in a seaside village, slowly healing from the adversities of World War II.
—The Know, Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2025
Each track weaves together themes of resilience and triumph, forging a powerful connection with listeners who have faced their own adversities.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
Sgarbossa makes sure to refer to the man himself, Pierre Balmain, and his resilience to adversities during tumultuous times, able to uplift women through fashion.
—Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
But his rendition of the history of the Axis of Resistance—from its birth out of necessity, to its success, to its present adversities—is largely accurate.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
And there's also, of course, the ability to overcome the adversities life throws our way, which is often where the legend's stuff lies.
—Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
These social adversities could range from violence in the community to insecure housing.
—Malaika Jabali, Essence, 10 Mar. 2025
Olivia, 12, faces family eviction, depression and finds a new community to rebuild her life and overcome adversities.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adversities
Noun
-
Embodying a character as evil as Stephen has made the far more relaxed White—whose real-life mother, Katey Sagal, plays his character’s troubled mother on the series—relish the character’s small misfortunes.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
20 Jan. 2026
-
What traits, decisions, or misfortunes exceed a person’s jurisdiction?—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In the basement of the headquarters, amid columns wrapped with green vines and yellow flowers, center director Martha Arevalo spoke about the hardships her organization has faced.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
In normal times, leaders might hesitate to impose that kind of moral weight on employees already living through the hardships of a global crisis.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Some Minnesotans reacted with doubt and concern to Homan’s announcement Thursday, as many residents’ trust in law enforcement has been eroded by the killings of two residents, weeks of clashes and a troubled history of high-profile tragedies.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
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Their songs have a way of leveling the playing field between tiny frustrations that make up a run-of-the-mill bad day and life-altering tragedies that render previous bad days unmemorable.—
Grace Robins-Somerville,
Pitchfork,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Just as enterprising librarians and archivists met the difficulties of their day with novel solutions, now a new generation looked for ways to adapt to the overflow.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Feb. 2026
-
On Friday, Hoda Kotb, who co-anchored TODAY with Savannah from 2017 until January 2025, returned to the show to talk about the worry the team feels for their friend, and all the times Savannah has been there for them while facing their own difficulties.—
Kase Wickman,
Vanity Fair,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adversities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adversities. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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