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.
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Recent Examples of vicissitudes
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
Mere knick-knacks, which have all disappeared with the vicissitudes of years.
—Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
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
Mere knick-knacks, which have all disappeared with the vicissitudes of years.
—Adam Verner
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicissitudes
Noun
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Others have also turned their personal ordeals into stories of inspiration.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2026
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The medical ordeals are traumatic and disgusting, but fascinating and full of the quirks of modern life.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Punjabi immigrants faced challenges when integrating into California farm communities in the early 1900s, accentuated by laws that restricted immigration from Asia, closed paths to citizenship and barred noncitizens from landownership.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
13 Apr. 2026
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The company said recent outages were primarily the result of severe weather and equipment challenges, both of which will be addressed by the reliability improvement project.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The story involves the troubles of a beloved brother, and the longtime effort to reckon with his pain and that of his family.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
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Mumbai’s troubles didn’t end there as Patidar reached 50 off only 17 balls.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, the European settlers, underprepared for actual conditions in the region, suffered great privations, and only 1,500 remained by 1832.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
19 Mar. 2026
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Diaries kept by Eugenia Zieber describe the privations of the trail, chief among them the frequent deaths of fellow travelers.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vicissitudes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicissitudes. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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