Meaning & use
vicissitude
A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or beyond one's control.
See it in a sentence
Despite the vicissitudes of war, the small village managed to preserve its ancient traditions.
Her memoir recounts the many vicissitudes of a life spent moving between countries.
A note on using this word
Almost always used in the plural, "vicissitudes," and typically in formal or literary writing.
Words with a similar meaning
upheavalfluctuation
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
stability
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