Synonyms of mischance

mischance

noun

ˌmis-ˈchan(t)s 

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

• accident
• casualty
• mishap
• disaster
• misfortune
• catastrophe
• tragedy
• calamity
• crash
• collision
• misadventure
• cropper
• cataclysm
• wreck
• deathblow
• knock
• smashup
• bummer
• crack-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strike
• miracle
• break
• windfall
• boon
• luck
• fluke
• fortune
• godsend
• serendipity

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

• misfortune
• tragedy
• mishap
• accident
• hardship
• ill
• misadventure
• disaster
• adversity
• trouble
• catastrophe
• misery
• fate
• circumstance
• calamity
• trial
• knock
• sorrow
• suffering
• blow
• defeat
• doom
• disappointment
• woe
• distress
• tribulation
• curse
• casualty
• evil
• failure
• unhappiness
• cataclysm
• setback
• destiny
• affliction
• portion
• nonsuccess
• body blow
• fizzle
• letdown
• lot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• luck
• fortune
• opportunity
• chance
• stroke
• strike
• success
• serendipity
• break
• hit
• achievement
• fluke
• windfall
• accomplishment
• godsend

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

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