Definition of: misfortune

(mis·fôr′chən) noun
1. Adverse or ill fortune.
2. An unlucky chance or occurrence; calamity. Synonyms: adversity, affliction, bereavement, blow, calamity, chastening, chastisement, disappointment, disaster, distress, failure, hardship, harm, ill, misadventure, mischance, misery, mishap, reverse, ruin, sorrow, stroke, trial, tribulation, trouble, visitation. Misfortune is usually of lingering character or consequences, and such as the sufferer is not deemed directly responsible for; as, He had the misfortune to be born blind. Any considerable disappointment, failure, or misfortune, as regards outward circumstances, as loss of fortune, position, and the like, when long continued or attended with enduring consequences, constitutes adversity. For the loss of friends by death we commonly use affliction or bereavement. Calamity and disaster are used of sudden and severe misfortunes. We speak of the misery of the poor, the hardships of the soldier. Affliction, chastening, trial, and tribulation all suggest some disciplinary purpose of God with beneficent design. Affliction may be keen and bitter, but brief; tribulation is long and wearing. Compare ACCIDENT, ADVERSITY, BLOW, CATASTROPHE, LOSS. Antonyms: blessing, boon, comfort, consolation, gratification, happiness, joy, pleasure, prosperity, relief, success, triumph.