Meaning & use
in adversity
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Meanings
phrasefixed phraseformal
when someone is having a hard, unlucky, or difficult time in life
Grammar: Used as an adverbial phrase after verbs such as help, support, or stay; no article is used before 'adversity'.
Patterns
- help someone in adversity
- support someone in adversity
- stay with someone in adversity
True friends stay with you in adversity.
The charity was set up to help families in adversity.
She showed great patience in adversity.
phrasefixed phraseformal
used about a group or country that is going through serious trouble or hardship
Grammar: Often appears in formal writing about nations, companies, or teams; it describes the situation, not a personal feeling.
Patterns
- a nation in adversity
- remain calm in adversity
- unity in adversity
The whole nation came together in adversity.
The company kept its workers employed even in adversity.
Their unity in adversity impressed everyone.
Common combinations
- help someone in adversity
- Neighbors helped each other in adversity after the flood.
- support someone in adversity
- A good manager supports the team in adversity.
- a friend in adversity
- He proved to be a real friend in adversity.
- strength in adversity
- Her strength in adversity surprised even her family.
- remain calm in adversity
- Leaders must remain calm in adversity.
Synonyms and how they differ
- in hard times
- More everyday and less formal; it fits conversation better than 'in adversity'.
- in difficulty
- Focuses on problems and struggles rather than on lasting bad luck, and is common in official writing.
- in trouble
- Much more informal and often suggests a specific problem such as debt or punishment.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: in adversity or adversary? in adversity or diversity?
in adversity vs adversary
An adversary is an enemy or opponent (a person), while adversity means difficult conditions.
in adversity vs diversity
Diversity means variety or difference; it sounds similar to adversity but has a completely different meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'in adversity' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'In adversity' is a fixed phrase with no article, so 'in adversity' is correct. 'In an adversity' wrongly adds an article, 'in adversities' wrongly makes it plural, and 'in the adversity of the match' wrongly treats it as a countable situation.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “in adversity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.