Adversity — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ad-ˈvər-sə-tē/ ad·ver·si·ty

Meaning & Definition of Adversity

Adversity (noun)

  1. a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune

Adversity (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. bad luck or an example of this

    "many people came face-to-face with life-altering adversity when the stock market crashed"

    similar: ill, knock, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, tragedy
    related: calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, disaster, affliction, hardship, trial, tribulation, woe, distress, misery, suffering, unhappiness, defeat, failure, fizzle, nonsuccess, curse, evil, sorrow, trouble, accident, casualty, blow, body blow, disappointment, letdown, setback, circumstance, destiny, doom, fate, lot, portion
    opposite: fortune, luck, serendipity
    near: break, chance, fluke, godsend, hit, opportunity, strike, stroke, windfall, accomplishment, achievement, success

  2. 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"

    similar: asperity, difficulty, hardness, hardship, rigor
    related: discomfort, inconvenience, nuisance, affliction, trial, tribulation, knock, misfortune, mishap, tragedy, bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, handicap, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, pons asinorum, rub, shackle, snag, stop, trammel, block, chain, deterrent, encumbrance, fetter, inhibition, hump
    near: advantage, break, opportunity

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Adversity

The most common words with a similar meaning to Adversity:

ill, knock, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, tragedy, asperity, difficulty, hardness, hardship, rigor

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Adversity

Words with the opposite meaning of Adversity:

fortune, luck, serendipity

Related Words for Adversity

calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, disaster, affliction, trial, tribulation, woe, distress, misery, suffering, unhappiness, defeat, failure, fizzle, nonsuccess, curse, evil, sorrow, trouble, accident, casualty, blow, body blow, disappointment, letdown, setback, circumstance, destiny, doom

Near Antonyms of Adversity

break, chance, fluke, godsend, hit, opportunity, strike, stroke, windfall, accomplishment, achievement, success, advantage

Word Forms of Adversity

Inflections: adversities

Origin & Etymology of Adversity

Middle English adversite "opposition, hostility, misfortune, hardship," borrowed from Anglo-French adversité, aversité, borrowed from Late Latin adversitāt-, adversitās (Latin, "power of counteracting"), from Latin adversus adverse + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Adversity

Frequently Asked Questions about Adversity

What does "Adversity" mean?

"Adversity" means a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune. As a noun, it is defined as: a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Adversity"?

Other words for "Adversity" include ill, knock, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, tragedy and asperity. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Adversity" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Adversity"?

There are 77 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Adversity". Common alternatives include ill, knock, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, tragedy, asperity, difficulty and hardness.

What is the opposite of "Adversity"?

Antonyms of "Adversity" include fortune, luck and serendipity. Near antonyms include break, chance, fluke and godsend.

How do you use "Adversity" in a sentence?

Examples of "Adversity" in a sentence: "many people came face-to-face with life-altering adversity when the stock market crashed"; "some overcame all the adversities of the Great Depression and rebuilt their fortunes".

Is "Adversity" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Adversity" is a noun.

Is "Adversity" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Adversity" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Adversity"?

"Adversity" is pronounced /ad-ˈvər-sə-tē/ and divided into syllables as ad·ver·si·ty.