as in tragedies
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
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Recent Examples of misfortunes
The Philadelphia singer-songwriter seeks out the mystical potential of quotidian misfortunes in a set of psychedelic-of-center bedroom pop songs.
—
Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 8 Apr. 2026
But a staggering series of misfortunes – an arsonist destroyed her rental house; the private equity firm that owned the house still demanded two months’ rent and kept her security deposit; she was diagnosed with ovarian and breast cancer – forced her into tenuous housing situations.
—John Blake, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
Their eyelike motifs have been associated with the evil eye that could curse performances and bring misfortunes.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
How does falling victim to one of the most notoriously unlikely of all misfortunes reorient your sense of chance, of fate?
—Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
This is but the first in a series of escalating misfortunes.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
The journey is hampered by lack of money and other misfortunes, and it’s eventually interrupted by a gunshot, announcing the cantankerous presence of Tiga.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
The 33-year-old politician believes that the series illustrates a broader current issue, caused by the resurgence of public interest in the Kennedy clan and its misfortunes.
—Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 4 Mar. 2026
But there’s a network of people looking to cash in on others’ misfortunes by renting out aging RVs to those searching for housing without a lease or tenant protections.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 8 Apr. 2026
But a staggering series of misfortunes – an arsonist destroyed her rental house; the private equity firm that owned the house still demanded two months’ rent and kept her security deposit; she was diagnosed with ovarian and breast cancer – forced her into tenuous housing situations.
—John Blake, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
Their eyelike motifs have been associated with the evil eye that could curse performances and bring misfortunes.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
How does falling victim to one of the most notoriously unlikely of all misfortunes reorient your sense of chance, of fate?
—Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
This is but the first in a series of escalating misfortunes.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
The journey is hampered by lack of money and other misfortunes, and it’s eventually interrupted by a gunshot, announcing the cantankerous presence of Tiga.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
The 33-year-old politician believes that the series illustrates a broader current issue, caused by the resurgence of public interest in the Kennedy clan and its misfortunes.
—Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 4 Mar. 2026
But there’s a network of people looking to cash in on others’ misfortunes by renting out aging RVs to those searching for housing without a lease or tenant protections.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misfortunes
Noun
-
The saddies of Enid’s notebook all a little uncanny, as in any good comic, yet terribly human in their tragedies.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Apr. 2026
-
As in all tragedies of chivalry, the alliance will split.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
After joining the Dodgers, Robinson faced several hardships.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Apr. 2026
-
This project did indeed start small – a single gray tote placed in the downtown lobby of Family Counseling Service, where staff members could donate toys for the kids of families struggling with everyday hardships.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Slavin began living in a van more than a decade ago as a result of a whirlwind of financial and personal troubles.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Cook County property tax bills will be late again this year, the treasurer’s office bluntly affirmed this week, as various offices continue to try to catch up from last year’s troubles and address lingering ones.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Airline crashes get much more media attention, but road, rail and water mishaps affect far more people and can result in lasting psychological disability.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The accelerating adoption of AI is also leading to mishaps.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Handing the keys of power to wannabe authoritarians is starting to look deeply unwise in light of Washington’s military and trade misadventures.—
Lionel Laurent,
Twin Cities,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Her narration, once heavy-handed, is now pared down, functioning only as thin connective tissue between Rue’s desert misadventures and the rest of the cast’s Los Angeles lives.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Misfortunes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misfortunes. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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