as in ordeal
a negative event or circumstance that is common to a particular setting or situation and is usually beyond one's control
The vicissitudes of medical school proved too much for the anxious student.
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Recent Examples of vicissitude
Their vicissitudes are both timely and for all time.
—
Peter Rainer,
Christian Science Monitor,
17 Dec. 2025
Whatever its reputation, the OIGC is still subject to the vicissitudes of other arts organizations.
—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
1 Dec. 2025
By using non-actors who have endured the vicissitudes of the world, Laxe didn’t have to develop the characters in a conventional way.
—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
12 Nov. 2025
Renaissance has prided itself on a debt-free history, despite the vicissitudes of performing arts fundraising.
—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vicissitude
Peter Rainer,
Christian Science Monitor,
17 Dec. 2025
Whatever its reputation, the OIGC is still subject to the vicissitudes of other arts organizations.
—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
1 Dec. 2025
By using non-actors who have endured the vicissitudes of the world, Laxe didn’t have to develop the characters in a conventional way.
—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
12 Nov. 2025
Renaissance has prided itself on a debt-free history, despite the vicissitudes of performing arts fundraising.
—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vicissitude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicissitude
Noun
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Early first documented the ordeal, which occurred on the swinging SkyScreamer ride, in a now-viral video on TikTok that has received over 11 million views.
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Rodney McDonald, who was traveling with his wife and two sons, told ABC News the ordeal began when the aircraft unexpectedly lurched.
Noun
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The operators who survive this structural gauntlet may find themselves on the other side of a very different landscape.
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Every detail feels intentional, from the intricate French lace to the removable lace gauntlets and dramatic overskirt.
Noun
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There’s Kimi Antonelli’s sudden rise, which so far seems to be one for the ages, while George Russell’s run of misfortune is certainly captivating.
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The greatest disparity in this year’s group stage, however, came on Tuesday, when Iraq also had the misfortune of facing off with Haaland.
Noun
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The novel emphasizes that these conditions of privation and dispossession are themselves a vicious inheritance, that bloodshed and conquest have long characterized the story of this land.
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Meanwhile, the European settlers, underprepared for actual conditions in the region, suffered great privations, and only 1,500 remained by 1832.
Cite this Entry
“Vicissitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicissitude. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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