Adversity | Definition of adversity by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of ADVERSITY

: a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune (see adverse)

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Examples of ADVERSITY

After two years of research, I discovered that everyone has a crisis personality survivor IQ—that they marshal in a moment of adversity: a mindset and ways of thinking about a situation. —Ben Sherwood, Newsweek, 2 Feb. 2009
Perhaps because their brains are wired differently, dyslexics are often skilled problem solvers, coming at solutions from novel or surprising angles and making conceptual leaps. … It may also be that their early struggle with reading better prepares them for dealing with adversity in a volatile, fast-changing world. —Christine Gorman ,Time, 28 July 2003
High school, college and even NFL teams have been getting a quick morale boost by going to see Remember the Titans, the schmaltzy but uplifting story about (what else?) a football squad overcoming adversity. —Sports Illustrated, 6 Nov. 2000
The narrative plot is clearly defined, and it is classically familiar: Huck (without Jim) and Tom Sawyer light out for unknown territory to discover their manhood by successfully confronting the harsh adversities of life. —John W. Aldridge, Atlantic, August 1994
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Origin of ADVERSITY

(see adverse)

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to ADVERSITY

Synonyms: misfortune, ill, knock, misadventure, mischance, mishap, tragedy

Antonyms: fortune, luck, serendipity

Synonym Discussion of ADVERSITY

misfortune, mischance, adversity, mishap mean adverse fortune or an instance of this. misfortune may apply to either the incident or conjunction of events that is the cause of an unhappy change of fortune or to the ensuing state of distress <never lost hope even in the depths of misfortune>. mischance applies especially to a situation involving no more than slight inconvenience or minor annoyance <took the wrong road by mischance>. adversity applies to a state of grave or persistent misfortune <had never experienced great adversity>. mishap applies to an often trivial instance of bad luck <the usual mishaps of a family vacation>.

Definition of ADVERSITY for Kids

: hard times : misfortune <Despite the adversity of his childhood, he achieved great success.>

Learn More About ADVERSITY

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "adversity"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "adversity"

Nglish: Translation of "adversity" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "adversity" for Arabic speakers

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