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

Poliński said Zosia would likely have been blamed for misfortunes such as disease and famine that often plagued the region in the 17th century, which people sometimes attributed to supernatural activity by the dead. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

But the fire this time was started by a son, which led to raging misfortunes that consumed his three brothers one by one, leaving only ashen memories for his surviving sister and aged parents to sift through. — Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026

He was criticized for outing LGBTQ+ stars who hadn’t revealed their sexuality publicly, and for bullying others by mocking their misfortune. — Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2026

In this family, Shigejiro seemed to be cloaked in a waterproof tarpaulin that repelled the currents of misfortune. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026