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
But the game plan has rarely evolved to keep pace with second-half events and Chelsea’s conviction in the way they are being asked to play too often fades at the onset of adversity.
—Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Despite the challenges that COVID-19 presented, Odyssey saw a surge in clientele seeking expert advice to navigate through the tumultuous times, indicating that adversity often steers businesses toward consulting and higher intelligence.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 13 Jan. 2025
Throughout this improbable run, the Vikings have shown the ability to respond in the face of adversity.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 12 Jan. 2025
The Knicks finished the season 50-32, and the trade underscored the front office’s ability to act decisively in the face of adversity, addressing pressing needs while keeping the team competitive.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for adversity 
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Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Despite the challenges that COVID-19 presented, Odyssey saw a surge in clientele seeking expert advice to navigate through the tumultuous times, indicating that adversity often steers businesses toward consulting and higher intelligence.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 13 Jan. 2025
Throughout this improbable run, the Vikings have shown the ability to respond in the face of adversity.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 12 Jan. 2025
The Knicks finished the season 50-32, and the trade underscored the front office’s ability to act decisively in the face of adversity, addressing pressing needs while keeping the team competitive.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025
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 20 Jan. 2025.
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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