1
as in accident
a chance and usually sudden event bringing loss or injury
the smallest mischance could spell disaster for our plan
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in misfortune
bad luck or an example of this
by mischance she took a wrong turn and became hopelessly lost in the city
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Recent Examples of mischance
Through mischance and rebel defiance, many of these same redcoats had failed to capture the fortress eight months earlier, despite standing at the gates.
—
/ Cbs News, CBS News, 13 June 2025
In the summer of 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, both Arsenal and Liverpool had the strange mischance to lift silverware in empty stadia: Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions in an Anfield devoid of fans, while Arsenal won the FA Cup final in a cavernous, echoing Wembley Stadium.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 10 May 2025
Timothy Naftali, New York University historian But mischance and error plagued the U.S. effort to divert the missile crisis.
—Glenn Garvin, miamiherald, 18 Oct. 2015
/ Cbs News, CBS News, 13 June 2025
In the summer of 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, both Arsenal and Liverpool had the strange mischance to lift silverware in empty stadia: Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions in an Anfield devoid of fans, while Arsenal won the FA Cup final in a cavernous, echoing Wembley Stadium.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 10 May 2025
Timothy Naftali, New York University historian But mischance and error plagued the U.S. effort to divert the missile crisis.
—Glenn Garvin, miamiherald, 18 Oct. 2015
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mischance
Noun
-
Two snowmobilers died in separate accidents in western Wyoming in late January, officials said.—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Some businesses require drug tests for employment or following an on-site accident.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There’s some luck involved with that, but there’s far more to it than misfortune.—
Sam McDowell
February 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Feb. 2026
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This was a window where Villa had to adjust to injury misfortune and, all the while, satisfy Emery’s wishes for improvement.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The death happened four years after a previous tragedy near Northstar.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
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Worst mass shootings in Canada's history The attack on the village of Tumbler Ridge is among the worst shootings in the history of Canada, where such tragedies are relatively rare.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mischance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mischance. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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