adversity
adversity
Pronunciation
adversity /ədˈvɜːrsɪti/
ad- /əd/:
/ə/: schwa (unstressed vowel sound, like 'a' in 'about')
/d/: voiced alveolar stop (like 'd' in 'dog')
-ver- /vɜːr/:
/v/: voiced labiodental fricative (like 'v' in 'van')
/ɜːr/: stressed r-colored vowel (like 'ir' in 'bird' or 'ur' in 'fur')
-si- /sɪ/:
/s/: voiceless alveolar fricative (like 's' in 'sit')
/ɪ/: near-close near-front unrounded vowel (like 'i' in 'kit')
-ty /ti/:
/t/: voiceless alveolar stop (like 't' in 'top')
/i/: close front unrounded vowel (like 'ee' in 'see')
Word Form Variations
The primary word form of "adversity" is a noun. It does not have typical singular/plural variations in the same way countable nouns do, but rather exists as a singular concept.
Noun: adversity (uncountable)
Adjective: adverse (e.g., "adverse conditions")
Adverb: adversely (e.g., "adversely affected")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Adversity
A state or instance of serious difficulty, misfortune, or challenging circumstances that hinder progress or well-being.
Synonyms: hardship, misfortune, tribulation, calamity, affliction, struggle, difficulty, distress
Antonyms: prosperity, fortune, blessing, advantage, ease, success, good luck, boon
An unfavorable event or set of conditions that acts as an obstacle or source of suffering.
Synonyms: setback, crisis, trial, trouble, disaster, predicament, predicament, ordeal
Antonyms: breakthrough, opportunity, advantage, aid, relief, comfort, benefit, solution
Examples of Use
Books: "It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." This quote, often attributed to Aristotle Onassis, captures the essence of overcoming adversity that is a common theme in motivational and self-help books. (The Big Book of Motivation and Success, March 2018)
Newspapers: "The resilient community faced economic adversity with remarkable unity, launching local initiatives to support struggling businesses." (The Daily Chronicle, May 2024)
Online Publications: "In an article discussing mental resilience, one psychologist wrote, 'Building the capacity to adapt and grow through adversity is a cornerstone of mental well-being.'" (Psychology Today online, February 2024)
Entertainment Mediums (Film): A character in a recent drama film might declare, "Every great hero's journey is defined not by the absence of adversity, but by how they rise above it."
Entertainment Platforms (Television Series): In a popular historical drama, a narrator might reflect, "The kingdom, besieged by famine and internal strife, endured years of profound adversity before peace was finally restored."
General Public Discourse: During a public address, a leader might state, "We have faced significant adversity as a nation, but our collective spirit and determination will see us through."
Sports Commentary: "Despite facing early-game adversity with a two-goal deficit, the team showed incredible grit to come back and win." (SportsCenter, April 2024)
Memoirs/Biographies: "Her autobiography detailed the myriad forms of adversity she encountered on her path to becoming a pioneering scientist, from gender bias to lack of funding." (A Scientist's Journey, June 2023)
10 Famous Quotes Using Adversity
"It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life story will develop." (Dieter F. Uchtdorf)
"Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records." (William Arthur Ward)
"There is no education like adversity." (Benjamin Disraeli)
"Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit." (Napoleon Hill)
"All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me." (Walt Disney)
"Adversity is the diamond dust Heaven polishes its jewels with." (Thomas Carlyle)
"Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it." (Horace)
"In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends." (John Churton Collins)
"Sweet are the uses of adversity, which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head." (William Shakespeare)
"The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity." (Lucius Annaeus Seneca)
Etymology
The word "adversity" has a really interesting journey! It comes from Latin, and its original meaning helps us understand why it refers to tough times.
Think of the Latin word "adversus," which literally means "turned against" or "facing." This word itself comes from "advertere," which combines "ad-" (meaning "to" or "toward") and "vertere" (meaning "to turn"). So, the core idea is something that is "turned toward you" in a way that is "against" you.
This Latin idea of something being "turned against" you evolved. When English borrowed the word, it came through Old French as "adversite" or "aversite" around the 13th century (specifically, the earliest known use is around 1225).
At first, it carried meanings of "opposition" or "hostility." But quite quickly, it shifted to describe a "condition of misfortune, hardship, difficulty, or distress." So, the earliest meaning was very much tied to things that were "against" you, and that developed directly into the sense of having bad luck or facing difficult circumstances, which is how we primarily use "adversity" today.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Adversity
Phrases & Collocations with "Adversity":
Face adversity: To encounter or confront difficult circumstances.
Overcome adversity: To successfully deal with and move past hardships.
Rise above adversity: To show strength and resilience in the face of difficulties.
Through adversity: Enduring challenging times to achieve something.
Build character through adversity: The idea that challenging experiences strengthen one's moral or mental qualities.
Periods of adversity: Times marked by significant difficulty or misfortune.
Conquer adversity: To defeat or master one's challenges.
Test of adversity: A situation that reveals one's true strength or resilience.
Idioms with Synonyms (for similar effect):
Down on one's luck: Experiencing a period of misfortune or difficulty.
In dire straits: In a very serious or difficult situation.
Weather the storm: To survive a period of difficulty or crisis.
Against the odds: Despite very little chance of success due to difficult circumstances.
Hit rock bottom: To reach the lowest possible point of misfortune or despair.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire: Moving from a bad situation to one that is even worse.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of adversity from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
