adversity
Americannoun
plural
adversities-
adverse or unfavorable fortune or fate; a condition marked by misfortune, calamity, or distress.
Friends will show their true colors in times of adversity.
- Synonyms:
- misery, trouble, disaster, catastrophe
- Antonyms:
- prosperity
-
an adverse or unfortunate event or circumstance.
You will meet many adversities in life.
noun
-
distress; affliction; hardship
-
an unfortunate event or incident
Related Words
See affliction.
Etymology
Origin of adversity
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English adversite, from Anglo-French, from Latin adversitās “opposition”; equivalent to adverse + -ity
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Experiences such as emotional neglect and other forms of adversity can significantly influence a child's development.
From Science Daily • Mar. 17, 2026
Tibbs was thrown for a loop by both trades, and taught him a lesson about facing adversity.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026
In the face of adversity, an inexperienced leader will lean on those who share his grievances and worldview.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026
"England fans rightly expect a team that learns and grows through adversity, and we're confident this group will do everything they can to deliver that."
From BBC • Mar. 8, 2026
There is another definition in which resilience means the ability to recover easily from adversity.
From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
