as in ordeals
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.
Related Words
Relevance
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 vicissitudes
Throughout this dense and always engrossing survey of Lean’s career in film, Thompson threads the vicissitudes of the director’s personal life, spanning six wives and various other relationships and flings.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2026
The show is good at making the off-and-on vicissitudes of modern dating feel natural to the plot.
—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
The Kino Babylon, opened in 1929 and still going strong despite vicissitudes, is an appropriate venue for Guadalajara’s 40th anniversary showcase.
—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
The family drama is underpinned by the vicissitudes inherent in moviemaking.
—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
19 Jan. 2026
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
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2026
The show is good at making the off-and-on vicissitudes of modern dating feel natural to the plot.
—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
The Kino Babylon, opened in 1929 and still going strong despite vicissitudes, is an appropriate venue for Guadalajara’s 40th anniversary showcase.
—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
The family drama is underpinned by the vicissitudes inherent in moviemaking.
—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
19 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicissitudes
Noun
-
Meanwhile, Phillips said, victims are left to live with the impacts of the perpetrators’ actions — with the survivors in this case forced to continue to relive their ordeals as the case continues on to the Court of Appeal.
-
And for that matter, how could adults accurately account for such ordeals?
Noun
-
Jessie blames technology for toy misfortunes, getting angry at all forms of technology, even those already discarded.
-
Repairing Furniture There are few misfortunes greater than scratching a new piece of dark wood furniture.
Noun
-
Yet robust economic growth has proved elusive, even as government debt has climbed, leaving successive administrations with little firepower to fix a growing list of related challenges, from crumbling infrastructure to a chronic housing shortage.
-
Some of the restrictions were partially or fully reversed after public backlash and court challenges.
Noun
-
Jamie Moyer surrendered his record-breaking 506th home run but was sharp otherwise, and the Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of Toronto’s troubles to beat the Blue Jays 11-2.
-
The renowned, often feared lawyer dedicated years of pro-bono time to saving emerging designers from their troubles and steering their careers upward.
Noun
-
Meanwhile, the European settlers, underprepared for actual conditions in the region, suffered great privations, and only 1,500 remained by 1832.
-
Diaries kept by Eugenia Zieber describe the privations of the trail, chief among them the frequent deaths of fellow travelers.
Cite this Entry
“Vicissitudes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicissitudes. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
