adversity
[ad-vur-si-tee]
- adverse or unfavorable fortune or fate; a condition marked by misfortune, calamity, or distress: Friends will show their true colors in times of adversity.
- an adverse or unfortunate event or circumstance: You will meet many adversities in life.
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Origin of adversity
Synonyms
See more synonyms for adversity on Thesaurus.com1. catastrophe, disaster; trouble, misery.
Synonym study
2. See affliction.
Antonyms
1. prosperity.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for adversities
Historical Examples
Why, her grief over the country's adversities must have cut her life short.
It will help thee at thy need, in sickness, grief, and all adversities.
Primitive Psycho-Therapy and QuackeryRobert Means Lawrence
Ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all adversities.
OrthographyElmer W. Cavins
But their English hearts were not daunted, and bravely did they struggle with their adversities.
Memorials of Old LondonVarious
But with our own distempers and adversities it is altogether different.
Thoughts on ManWilliam Godwin
adversity
- distress; affliction; hardship
- an unfortunate event or incident
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for adversities
adversity
n.
c.1200, aduersite "misfortune, hardship, difficulty," from Old French aversité "adversity, calamity, misfortune; hostility, wickedness, malice" (Modern French adversité), from Latin adversitatem (nominative adversitas) "opposition," from adversus (see adverse).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper