misfortune

Bad fortune or ill luck.

The condition resulting from bad fortune or ill luck.

A distressing occurrence.

To fall out unfortunately or unhappily; fail or miscarry.

Ill fortune; especially, adverse fortune for which the sufferer is not directly responsible; adversity.

An unfortunate event or circumstance; a mishap or accident; anything that causes harm or disappointment: as, he had the misfortune to break his leg; it was his misfortune, not his fault.

A lapse from virtue.

Synonyms Mischance, Mishap, Misfortune, Disaster, Calamity, Catastrophe, misadventure, ill, harm, reverse, blow, stroke, trouble. The first six words are arranged in the order of strength: they agree in denoting untoward events, produced by causes presumably independent of the sufferer. Mischance is the lightest word for that which is really disagreeable; a mishap may be comparatively a trivial thing; both generally apply to the experience of individuals. Misfortune is the most general of these words; a misfortune is a really serious matter; it may befall a person, family, or nation. A very serious misfortune affecting large numbers is a calamity, the central idea of which is wide-spread and general mischief. A disaster is not necessarily wide-spread; it is generally sudden, and its importance is in its effects upon other interests, as marring or ruining particular plans, hopes, courses, or conditions of things. A disaster may befall an individual; a calamity can come to an individual only by affecting his welfare largely, or bringing him into deep distress. A catastrophe is strictly a great misfortune bringing things to an end, a final crash, a finishing stroke: as, this brought on the catastrophe. See affliction.

Bad fortune or luck; calamity; an evil accident; disaster; mishap; mischance.