Synonyms of misfortune

misfortune

noun

ˌmis-ˈfȯr-chən 

as in tragedy

bad luck or an example of this

through sheer misfortune our car got a flat tire and we were late for the ceremony

our misfortunes of the last year included the loss of a beloved pet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Recent Examples of misfortune

What traits, decisions, or misfortunes exceed a person’s jurisdiction? —Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026

That’s Jets-level misfortune; the football gods telling you to pack it up for the season. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025

Others think leaving it up past New Year's Day brings misfortune for the year. —Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025

Lessons have been learned in the subsequent decades from the mistakes and misfortune of Yuba City on Christmas Eve, 1955. —Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 23 Dec. 2025