Misfortunes: meaning, definitions and examples

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misfortunes

 

[ mɪsˈfɔːtʃəns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in life

Unfortunate events or circumstances that bring suffering or distress to a person.

Synonyms

adversity, calamity, hardship, tragedy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
misfortunes

Generally describes a series of bad events that happen to someone, often used in everyday conversations.

  • She has faced many misfortunes in her life, but she remains hopeful
adversity

Refers to a difficult or unpleasant situation, can be used in both formal and informal settings. It often implies overcoming or coping with challenges.

  • Despite the adversity he faced, he never gave up on his dreams
hardship

Refers to difficult conditions or suffering, often related to financial or physical struggles. Commonly used in both everyday and formal contexts.

  • Many families faced severe hardship during the economic crisis
tragedy

Specifically describes a very sad or disastrous event, often leading to loss or suffering. It carries a strong emotional impact.

  • The sudden death of their child was a tragedy for the whole family
calamity

Describes a large-scale disaster or catastrophe, often used in more formal or dramatic contexts.

  • The earthquake was a calamity that affected thousands of people

Examples of usage

  • Despite all the misfortunes he faced, he never lost hope.
  • She had to endure a series of misfortunes before things finally started to improve.
Context #2 | Noun

financial

Financial losses or setbacks experienced by an individual or organization.

Synonyms

financial difficulties, losses, setbacks.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
misfortunes

General unlucky or unfortunate events that occur, often beyond one's control.

  • She has faced many misfortunes in her life, but she remains optimistic
  • Despite the misfortunes that befell him, he managed to keep pushing forward
losses

The experience of losing something valuable, such as money, possessions, or even intangible things like reputation.

  • The business suffered significant losses after the stock market crash
  • He is struggling to cope with the losses of his loved ones
setbacks

Challenges or hindrances that delay progress or achievement, but do not necessarily imply a permanent failure.

  • The project encountered several setbacks, but the team eventually completed it
  • She faced a minor setback in her career when she didn't get the promotion
financial difficulties

Specific issues related to money, such as lack of funds or inability to manage expenses.

  • The company has been experiencing financial difficulties due to the recent market downturn
  • Many families face financial difficulties during the holiday season

Examples of usage

  • The company was unable to recover from the misfortunes of the previous year.
  • He had to declare bankruptcy due to a string of misfortunes.

Translations

Translations of the word "misfortunes" in other languages:

🇵🇹 infortúnios

🇮🇳 दुर्भाग्य

🇩🇪 Unglücke

🇮🇩 kemalangan

🇺🇦 нещастя

🇵🇱 nieszczęścia

🇯🇵 不幸

🇫🇷 malheurs

🇪🇸 desgracias

🇹🇷 felaketler

🇰🇷 불운

🇸🇦 مصائب

🇨🇿 neštěstí

🇸🇰 nešťastia

🇨🇳 不幸

🇸🇮 nesreče

🇮🇸 óheppni

🇰🇿 сәтсіздіктер

🇬🇪 უბედურებები

🇦🇿 bədbəxtliklər

🇲🇽 desgracias

Etymology

The word "misfortunes" originated from the Middle English word "misfortune", which in turn came from the Old French word "mesfortune". The prefix "mis-" implies bad or wrong, while "fortune" refers to luck or chance. The concept of misfortunes has been present throughout human history, as people have always faced challenges and setbacks in various aspects of their lives.

See also: fortunate, fortunately, misfortune.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,287, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.