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
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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
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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
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Initially dismissed as an accident, Charles, Oliver and Mabel dive headfirst into the investigation, uncovering a sprawling conspiracy that stretches beyond the building’s walls and entangles New York’s old mob families with its newest billionaires.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
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Damaged airbags also may fail to deploy in case of accidents.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And yet the Dolphins have found a way to remain masters of mediocrity, prolonging the NFL’s longest playoff win drought with a combination of misfortune and missteps.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
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Savannah Guthrie had the misfortune of learning this in a very public forum — live on Today — this week.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Watts said the child welfare agency also will maintain collaboration with public health officials, law enforcement and treatment providers to prevent tragedies connected to fentanyl and other drugs.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
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Here is the emphasis on the hardscrabble beginnings and obstacles to be overcome, here is the recognition of a truly raw but once-in-a-lifetime talent that converts the nonbelivers, here are the early wins and the training montages and the tragedies and the comebacks.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mischance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischance. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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