adversity
noun
ad·ver·si·ty
ad-ˈvər-sə-tē 
plural adversities
: a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune
showing courage in the face of adversity
Did you know?
Adversity comes from Middle English adversite, meaning "opposition, hostility, misfortune, or hardship," which itself is from Latin adversus, the source of adverse, which means "bad or unfavorable," as in "adverse criticism" or "an adverse reaction to the medication."
Synonyms
Examples of adversity in a Sentence
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
He showed courage in the face of adversity.
We had to learn to deal with adversity.
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
He showed courage in the face of adversity.
We had to learn to deal with adversity.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cacao trees are sensitive to environmental changes and don’t produce beans well in diverse conditions and extreme weather, which is bringing adversity to farmers and the chocolate business.
—Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
While last year’s team was sometimes prone to fold when adversity struck, the win over the Lightning was an example of the new attitude Hynes is installing.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 3 Nov. 2024
This is the same leader who helped deliver the lowest U.S. unemployment rate in a generation, who fought to bring jobs back to our shores, and who stood firm in the face of global adversity to ensure America remained a beacon of strength.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Through her adversities and setbacks, Megan has continued to use her platform to uplift and inspire, while maintaining her infectious energy as a trailblazer, advocating for mental health and body positivity.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 30 Oct. 2024
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Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
While last year’s team was sometimes prone to fold when adversity struck, the win over the Lightning was an example of the new attitude Hynes is installing.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 3 Nov. 2024
This is the same leader who helped deliver the lowest U.S. unemployment rate in a generation, who fought to bring jobs back to our shores, and who stood firm in the face of global adversity to ensure America remained a beacon of strength.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Through her adversities and setbacks, Megan has continued to use her platform to uplift and inspire, while maintaining her infectious energy as a trailblazer, advocating for mental health and body positivity.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for adversity
Dictionary Entries Near adversity
Cite this Entry
“Adversity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adversity. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
adversity
noun
ad·ver·si·ty
ad-ˈvər-sət-ē
plural adversities
: an instance or condition of serious or continued misfortune
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