Synonym Chooser

How does the noun mishap differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mishap are adversity, mischance, and misfortune. While all these words mean "adverse fortune or an instance of this," mishap applies to an often trivial instance of bad luck.

the usual mishaps of a family vacation

When is it sensible to use adversity instead of mishap?

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

had never experienced great adversity

When can mischance be used instead of mishap?

The meanings of mischance and mishap largely overlap; however, mischance applies especially to a situation involving no more than slight inconvenience or minor annoyance.

took the wrong road by mischance

In what contexts can misfortune take the place of mishap?

The synonyms misfortune and mishap are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

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 mishap The show stars Robinson as a guy who gets drawn into a rabbit hole after a workplace mishap. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025 Perhaps no one on the Sharks roster needed to have a good night more than goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, whose puck mishaps last Thursday led directly to the Sharks’ overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025 The explosion was the latest fiery mishap SpaceX's Starship has encountered during – and, now, before – its flight tests in 2025. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025 The mishap comes as advancing AI systems put pressure on consultancies. Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mishap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mishap
Noun
  • Kids don’t learn it from just accident.
    Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Kobolds can just as often decide to be harmful, however, causing accidents, cave-ins, and rockslides for reasons of their own.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Mistakes, misfortunes, even tragedy, toxic secrets from the past—anything can happen, or may have happened.
    Literary Hub, 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
Noun
  • But tragedies like these also reflect the vulnerability of this refugee population – with the overall reduction in support causing a cascade effect for those already living on a knife edge of survival.
    Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Mistakes, misfortunes, even tragedy, toxic secrets from the past—anything can happen, or may have happened.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mishap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mishap. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on mishap

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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