Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

mishap

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of mishap

1 a chance and usually sudden event bringing loss or injury

  • the usual mishaps of a family vacation
Synonyms of mishap

accident, casualty, mischance
Words Related to mishap

calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, cropper, deathblow, disaster, tragedy

bummer, knock, misadventure, misfortune

collision, crack-up, crash, smashup, wreck
Near Antonyms of mishap

boon, break, fluke, godsend, miracle, strike, windfall

fortune, luck, serendipity

2 bad luck or an example of this

  • mishap followed wherever he went
Synonyms of mishap

adversity, ill, knock, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, tragedy
Words Related to mishap

calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, disaster

affliction, hardship, trial, tribulation, woe

distress, misery, suffering, unhappiness

defeat, failure, fizzle, nonsuccess

curse, evil, sorrow, trouble

accident, casualty

blow, body blow, disappointment, letdown, setback

circumstance, destiny, doom, fate, lot, portion
Near Antonyms of mishap

break, chance, fluke, godsend, hit, opportunity, strike, stroke, windfall

accomplishment, achievement, success
Antonyms of mishap

fortune, luck, serendipity

Synonym Discussion of mishap

misfortune, mischance, adversity, mishap 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
mischance applies especially to a situation involving no more than slight inconvenience or minor annoyance.
    • took the wrong road by mischance
adversity applies to a state of grave or persistent misfortune.
    • had never experienced great adversity
mishap applies to an often trivial instance of bad luck.
    • the usual mishaps of a family vacation

Learn More about mishap

  1. See words that rhyme with mishap Dictionary: Definition of mishap Spanish Central: Translation of mishap Nglish: Translation of mishap for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of mishap for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up mishap? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

millefleur

having a pattern of small flowers

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. nebulous Lip reading, Brexit, and semantic uncertainty

  2. synergy Mueller files Cohen details.

  3. slumgullion From the broadcast of 'It Happened on Fifth Avenue'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games