Synonym Chooser

How does the noun misfortune differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of misfortune are adversity, mischance, and mishap. While all these words mean "adverse fortune or an instance of this," 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 might adversity be a better fit than misfortune?

The words adversity and misfortune are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, adversity applies to a state of grave or persistent misfortune.

had never experienced great adversity

When could mischance be used to replace misfortune?

Although the words mischance and misfortune have much in common, mischance applies especially to a situation involving no more than slight inconvenience or minor annoyance.

took the wrong road by mischance

When can mishap be used instead of misfortune?

While the synonyms mishap and misfortune are close in meaning, 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 misfortune Mistakes, misfortunes, even tragedy, toxic secrets from the past—anything can happen, or may have happened. Literary Hub, 24 Oct. 2025 Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry and coach Doug Christie are trying to pick up the pieces after a season of chaos caused their predecessors to lose their jobs, but so far fate and misfortune seem to be conspiring against them. Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2025 According to local belief, sending a lantern upward helps cleanse a person’s spirit and eases their misfortunes, clearing the path for good luck in the coming year. Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 20 Oct. 2025 Across almost 20 novels, the British author spun fantastical tales with unsentimental wit, infusing his work with darkly morbid humor, blithe child endangerment, rotten and antagonistic adults, and a willingness to occasionally laugh at the misfortune of others. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for misfortune
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfortune
Noun
  • Ege didn’t know it at the time, but the tragedy that happened to Musyoka has been playing out across the nation as pedestrian deaths near a four-decade high.
    Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Burma’s plight is not just a domestic tragedy but echoes across the globe.
    Kim Aris, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • As one of six siblings raised by a single mother, Blatt has dealt with her share of hardships.
    Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Frohling said some in the jury pool may face hardships, such as illness, death or travel, which could potentially excuse them.
    John Diedrich, jsonline.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Mamdani, 34, is a charismatic socialist who has limited experience in the private sector and seems utterly unconcerned about his guiding philosophy’s long track record of creating misery.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Beyond the outright annihilation of people and the considerable trauma that brought onto people, leftist regimes inflicted considerable misery in myriad other ways.
    Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Misfortune.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfortune. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on misfortune

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