1
as in misfortune
bad luck or an example of this
many people came face-to-face with life-altering adversity when the stock market crashed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hardship
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal
some overcame all the adversities of the Great Depression and rebuilt their fortunes
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Recent Examples of adversity
Combining powerful themes of legacy, adversity, and motivation with a battle cry-like urgency, Hanumankind rouses the listener, rapping percussively over the beat of a Chenda, or traditional Keralan drum.
—
Isha Sharma, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
Hold up three fingers in the series' famous salute and it's understood as a sign of solidarity in the face of adversity.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
Published in 1946 and translated into 50 languages with more than 16 million copies sold, Frankl’s account follows his time in the Nazi concentration camps and his exploration of the human will to find meaning in spite of unspeakable adversity.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
Just as a resilient football team bounces back from setbacks and finds ways to overcome adversity, a resilient organization must possess the same fortitude.
—Dana Berg, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adversity
Isha Sharma, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
Hold up three fingers in the series' famous salute and it's understood as a sign of solidarity in the face of adversity.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
Published in 1946 and translated into 50 languages with more than 16 million copies sold, Frankl’s account follows his time in the Nazi concentration camps and his exploration of the human will to find meaning in spite of unspeakable adversity.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
Just as a resilient football team bounces back from setbacks and finds ways to overcome adversity, a resilient organization must possess the same fortitude.
—Dana Berg, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adversity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adversity
Noun
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Miami’s misfortune with close games and big leads hasn’t dissuaded Spoelstra’s goal to maximize each possession and win every game, even if his roster is significantly different from five months ago.—
James Jackson,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Healthy bodies are the only thing that can make a difference at Madison Square Garden, but where there is great demand, misfortune would have it there is also a great shortage.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The book has the spirit of other King coming-of-age stories, following boys who prevail amid hardship and despair ala the characters in Stand by Me and It.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2025
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The Tower is not always an omen of hardship and struggle.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The Room Next Door shares the same theme, allowing director Pedro Almodóvar to address Covid-era tragedy, much as directing team Scott McGehee and David Siegel do in The Friend.—
Armond White,
National Review,
2 Apr. 2025
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Kilmer’s passion for performing was fostered early — during an active, adventurous childhood in Chatsworth, Calif., making homemade films and plays alongside his brothers Mark and Wesley — and also shaped by tragedy.—
Kara Warner,
People.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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At an international meeting on boosting border security and tackling people-smuggling, Starmer expressed frustration at the difficulty of stopping thousands of people a year risking the dangerous sea crossing from France.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Apr. 2025
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In my personal value system, difficulties should be faced with calm composure, bold creativity and steely determination — which my advisors model regularly.—
Jed Brewer,
Rolling Stone,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Adversity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adversity. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
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