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
Relevance
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
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
At this point in the iconic films, the main character — Sylvester Stallone — often faces his most adversity.
—
Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Kaneland coach Brian Aversa loves to see a player bouncing back from adversity.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
This is a politician who was shaped by adversity even though he was born to privilege.
—Michael Sheridan, Vanity Fair, 8 Apr. 2026
New York battled adversity in those final minutes, including a 5-point deficit.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adversity
Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Kaneland coach Brian Aversa loves to see a player bouncing back from adversity.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
This is a politician who was shaped by adversity even though he was born to privilege.
—Michael Sheridan, Vanity Fair, 8 Apr. 2026
New York battled adversity in those final minutes, including a 5-point deficit.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adversity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adversity
Noun
-
The latter faces more corruption up front, but both protagonists deal with their fair share of misfortune, growing up all too fast as a result.—
David Opie,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The Philadelphia singer-songwriter seeks out the mystical potential of quotidian misfortunes in a set of psychedelic-of-center bedroom pop songs.—
Lily Goldberg,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But this short-term hardship exemption would be off the table in Missouri.—
Samantha Liss,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
These early results show that energy insecurity, a hidden hardship defined as the inability to adequately meet household energy needs, affects millions of American households and is worsening quickly.—
Diana Hernández,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Setting Pepsi’s story straight for America 250 Bradham’s story becomes a tragedy only if his influence is forgotten.—
Ryan Wilusz,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Stars like Florence Lawrence did not simply appear on screen—rather, their romances, scandals, and personal tragedies were shaped into serialized publicity, their lives turned into ongoing narratives designed to sustain public attention.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After mixed results from these initial high-profile tastings, many startup companies retreated behind closed doors amid funding difficulties and political pushback from states.—
Jaia Clingham-David,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 Apr. 2026
-
On top of physical and mental challenges, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) can cause behavioral issues like compulsive behaviors and difficulty controlling emotions.—
Sarah Bradley,
Health,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adversity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adversity. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
