Synonym Chooser

How does the noun mischance differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mischance are adversity, misfortune, and mishap. While all these words mean "adverse fortune or an instance of this," mischance applies especially to a situation involving no more than slight inconvenience or minor annoyance.

took the wrong road by mischance

When is adversity a more appropriate choice than mischance?

The meanings of adversity and mischance largely overlap; however, adversity applies to a state of grave or persistent misfortune.

had never experienced great adversity

In what contexts can misfortune take the place of mischance?

In some situations, the words misfortune and mischance are roughly equivalent. 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 could mishap be used to replace mischance?

The words mishap and mischance are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 mischance Through mischance and rebel defiance, many of these same redcoats had failed to capture the fortress eight months earlier, despite standing at the gates. / Cbs News, CBS News, 13 June 2025 In the summer of 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, both Arsenal and Liverpool had the strange mischance to lift silverware in empty stadia: Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions in an Anfield devoid of fans, while Arsenal won the FA Cup final in a cavernous, echoing Wembley Stadium. James McNicholas, New York Times, 10 May 2025 Timothy Naftali, New York University historian But mischance and error plagued the U.S. effort to divert the missile crisis. Glenn Garvin, miamiherald, 18 Oct. 2015
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mischance
Noun
  • The accident occurred on July 16 at the Nassau Open MRI in Westbury, New York, according to a press release from the Nassau County Police Department in Long Island.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2025
  • Proponents argue video footage would provide crucial details for accident investigations, while opponents cite privacy concerns.
    Dan Catchpole, USA Today, 18 July 2025
Noun
  • When a child is harmed, her parent, in scrambling to make sense of her family’s sorrow and misfortune, may settle on blaming the person closest at hand.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 July 2025
  • Some shook their legs nervously, others gave death glares to folks with the misfortune of sitting on creaky chairs.
    Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 8 June 2025
Noun
  • In later years, Francis took extended breaks from music due to tragedy.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 18 July 2025
  • And, as her recording career suffered, Francis experienced personal tragedy in 1974 when she was raped at knifepoint in her hotel room after performing at the Westbury Music Fair.
    Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 18 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mischance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischance. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mischance

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