ADVERSITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does adversity mean? 

• ADVERSITY (noun)
  The noun ADVERSITY has 2 senses:

1. a state of misfortune or affliction

2. a stroke of ill fortune; a calamitous event

  Familiarity information: ADVERSITY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ADVERSITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A state of misfortune or affliction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

adversity; hard knocks; hardship

Context example:

a life of hardship

Hypernyms ("adversity" is a kind of...):

bad luck; ill luck; misfortune; tough luck (an unfortunate state resulting from unfavorable outcomes)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "adversity"):

ill-being (lack of prosperity or happiness or health)

catastrophe; disaster (a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune)

extremity (an extreme condition or state (especially of adversity or disease))

distress (a state of adversity (danger or affliction or need))

affliction (a state of great suffering and distress due to adversity)

victimization (adversity resulting from being made a victim)

low-water mark; nadir (an extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything)

Derivation:

adverse (contrary to your interests or welfare)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A stroke of ill fortune; a calamitous event

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

a period marked by adversities

Hypernyms ("adversity" is a kind of...):

bad luck; misfortune (unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event)

Derivation:

adverse (contrary to your interests or welfare)

 Context examples 

My first resolution was to quit Geneva for ever; my country, which, when I was happy and beloved, was dear to me, now, in my adversity, became hateful.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

In the lowest position, nearest the ground, at the bottom; minimal in magnitude, lowest in rank or importance; an extreme state of adversity.

(Lowest, NCI Thesaurus)

If the public funds be, indeed, so backward, Sir William, there is still, I trust, my own private credit, which hath never been drawn upon for my own uses, but is now ready in the cause of a friend in adversity.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She had stated therein that she had fallen into adversity, and was leaving Dover for good, but had quite made up her mind to it, and was so well that nobody need be uncomfortable about her.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Wealth is certainly a most desirable thing, but poverty has its sunny side, and one of the sweet uses of adversity is the genuine satisfaction which comes from hearty work of head or hand, and to the inspiration of necessity, we owe half the wise, beautiful, and useful blessings of the world.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

But Caroline Beaufort possessed a mind of an uncommon mould, and her courage rose to support her in her adversity.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)