Is adversity formal or informal?

What’s the difference between adversity and hardship?

How do I use adversity in a sentence?

Is adversity common in academic writing?

← Dictionary

adversity

/ˈæd.və.sə.ti/

IELTSAcademic

noun

Difficult or unlucky situations that test your strength and resolve.

We grew stronger after facing adversity.
Hardship teaches resilience during adversity.

Adinary Nuance

Near-neighbors: adversity is stronger than difficulty and more general than hardship; it emphasizes sustained challenge to character, whereas hardship highlights suffering and difficulty focuses on complexity. Use adversity in serious or formal contexts when the situation tests resilience.

In other languages

Spanish: Dificultad grave
Japanese: 逆境
Korean: 난관
Vietnamese: Thách thức lớn
Chinese: 艰难

Etymology

Common phrases

face adversityin times of adversityadversity and hardship

Synonyms

hardship difficulty misfortune trouble suffering

Frequently asked questions

Is adversity formal or informal?: Is adversity formal or informal?
What’s the difference between adversity and hardship?: What’s the difference between adversity and hardship?
How do I use adversity in a sentence?: How do I use adversity in a sentence?
Is adversity common in academic writing?: Is adversity common in academic writing?