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adversity

   Also found in: Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
ad·ver·si·ty  (d-vûrs-t)
n. pl. ad·ver·si·ties
1. A state of hardship or affliction; misfortune.
2. A calamitous event.
adversity
Noun
pl -ties very difficult or hard circumstances
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.adversity - a state of misfortune or affliction; "debt-ridden farmers struggling with adversity"; "a life of hardship"
hard knocks, hardship
ill-being - lack of prosperity or happiness or health
bad luck, ill luck, tough luck, misfortune - an unfortunate state resulting from unfavorable outcomes
disaster, catastrophe - a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune; "lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe for our school system"; "his policies were a disaster"
extremity - an extreme condition or state (especially of adversity or disease)
distress - a state of adversity (danger or affliction or need); "a ship in distress"; "she was the classic maiden in distress"
affliction - a state of great suffering and distress due to adversity
victimization - adversity resulting from being made a victim; "his victimization infuriated him"
low-water mark, nadir - an extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything
2.adversity - a stroke of ill fortune; a calamitous event; "a period marked by adversities"
misfortune, bad luck - unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
adversity
noun hardship, trouble, distress, suffering, trial, disaster, reverse, misery, hard times, catastrophe, sorrow, woe, misfortune, bad luck, deep water, calamity, mishap, affliction, wretchedness, ill-fortune, ill-luck
Translations
Spanish adversity [ədˈvəːsɪtɪ] n → infortunio
French adversity [ədˈvəːsɪtɪ] n → adversité f
German adversity [ədˈvəːsɪtɪ] adverse n → Widrigkeit f
Italian adversity [ədˈvəːsɪtɪ] n → avversità
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Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New; which carrieth the greater benediction, and the clearer revelation of God's favor.
The Essays by Bacon, Sir Francis View in context
Those who so bind themselves, and are not rapacious, ought to be honoured and loved; those who do not bind themselves may be dealt with in two ways; they may fail to do this through pusillanimity and a natural want of courage, in which case you ought to make use of them, especially of those who are of good counsel; and thus, whilst in prosperity you honour them, in adversity you do not have to fear them.
The Prince by Machiavelli, Nicolo View in context
Nor, again, that of a bad man passing from adversity to prosperity: for nothing can be more alien to the spirit of Tragedy; it possesses no single tragic quality; it neither satisfies the moral sense nor calls forth pity or fear.
The Poetics of Aristotle by Aristotle View in context
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