Synonyms for adversity
ædˈvɜr sɪ tiad·ver·si·ty

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 4 votes

1. adversity

   Misfortune is adverse fortune or any instance thereof, any untoward event, usually of lingering character or consequences, and such as the sufferer is not deemed directly responsible for; as, he had the misfortune to be born blind. Any considerable disappointment, failure, or misfortune, as regards outward circumstances, as loss of fortune, position, and the like, when long continued or attended with enduring consequences, constitutes adversity. For the loss of friends by death we commonly use affliction or bereavement. Calamity and disaster are used of sudden and severe misfortunes, often overwhelming; ill fortune and ill luck, of lighter troubles and failures. We speak of the misery of the poor, the hardships of the soldier. Affliction, chastening, trial, and tribulation have all an especially religious bearing, suggesting some disciplinary purpose of God with beneficent design. Affliction may be keen and bitter, but brief; tribulation is long and wearing. We speak of an affliction, but rarely of a tribulation, since tribulation is viewed as a continuous process, which may endure for years or for a lifetime; but we speak of our daily trials. Compare CATASTROPHE.

   Synonyms:
   affliction, bereavement, blow, calamity, chastening, chastisement, disappointment, disaster, distress, failure, hardship, harm, ill, ill fortune, ill luck, misadventure, mischance, misery, misfortune, mishap, reverse, ruin, sorrow, stroke, trial, tribulation, trouble, visitation

   Antonyms:
   blessing, boon, comfort, consolation, good fortune, good luck, gratification, happiness, joy, pleasure, prosperity, relief, success, triumph

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.8 / 4 votes

1. adversity

   Synonyms:
   ill-luck, misfortune, misery, calamity, disaster, distress, unsuccess, failure, ruin, trouble, affliction, sorrow

   Antonyms:
   good-luck, prosperity, happiness, success, advancement

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. adversity, hardship, hard knocksnoun

   a state of misfortune or affliction

   "debt-ridden farmers struggling with adversity"; "a life of hardship"

   Synonyms:
   rigor, rigourousness, severeness, hardship, severity, grimness, asperity, rigorousness, rigour, hard knocks

2. adversitynoun

   a stroke of ill fortune; a calamitous event

   "a period marked by adversities"

   Synonyms:
   hard knocks, hardship

Matched Categories

1. • Misfortune

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:4.0 / 1 vote

1. adversitynoun

   Synonyms:
   misfortune, calamity, affliction, trouble, suffering, woe, disaster, distress, misery, ill-luck, bad luck, broken fortunes, hard life, frowns of fortune

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:4.0 / 1 vote

1. adversitynoun

   Synonyms:
   misfortune, buffeting, disaster, affliction, reverses, trouble

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "adversity":

   ordeal, downturn, hardship

How to pronounce adversity?

How to say adversity in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use adversity in a sentence?

1. Napolean Hill:

   I have also discovered that there comes with every experience of temporary defeat, and every failure and every form of adversity, the seed of an equivalent benefit.

2. Goa Kerle:

   In adversity, strong men are strongest and weak men are in their weakest state. Choose to be strong.

3. President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday:

   Let us, whatever our affiliations, political, religious, social, continue to believe in ourselves, to believe in our collective capacity, so as to overcome adversity and challenges that confront us, including unemployment.

4. Jean-Jacques Rousseau:

   Adversity is a great teacher, but this teacher makes us pay dearly for its instruction; and often the profit we derive, is not worth the price we paid.

5. Metastasio:

   As gold is tried by the furnace, and the baser metal shown, so the hollow-hearted friend is known by adversity.