1
as in accident
a chance and usually sudden event bringing loss or injury
the smallest mischance could spell disaster for our plan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in misfortune
bad luck or an example of this
by mischance she took a wrong turn and became hopelessly lost in the city
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 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
/ 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
-
It should be noted that most nuclear power plants have run without accidents for decades, and nuclear power plants have many safeguards in place to prevent problems, according to the World Nuclear Association.—
Krisztian Elcsics,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
-
Frontier representatives declined to answer questions about the accident and evacuation submitted by email.—
Mead Gruver,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Prior administration has proactively refunded taxpayers in past misfortune and calamity events, and/or major economic downturns.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
-
The Vanguards experienced a bit of misfortune in the final game.—
David Delgado,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Those intentions prove to be relatively short-lived, as personal tragedy and political machinations eventually drove both men down their familiar old paths.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
-
One year after a fire at a religious hospice claimed the lives of 12 children, Mariel and Tino – a pair of documentary filmmakers – investigate the case of Gisela, the young volunteer who caused the tragedy and whom everyone believes to be dead.—
Roberto Prieto,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mischance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischance. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
