as in ordeal
a negative event or circumstance that is common to a particular setting or situation and is usually beyond one's control
The vicissitudes of medical school proved too much for the anxious student.
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Recent Examples of vicissitude
People who pay attention to the vicissitudes of Tesla CEO Elon Musk know that the man is not always serious on Twitter.
—
Aarian Marshall, Wired, 10 May 2020
The vicissitudes of history always challenge us in new and often confounding ways; that’s in the nature of things.
—Jon Meacham, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2020
All of the biggest corporate mergers, the deals that determine the vicissitudes of our global markets, happen within their walls.
—Rachel Epstein, Marie Claire, 30 Mar. 2020
Sport is usually a constant -- a field, court, track or course that is resistant to the vicissitudes of the world around us.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 12 Mar. 2020
See All Example Sentences for vicissitude
Aarian Marshall, Wired, 10 May 2020
The vicissitudes of history always challenge us in new and often confounding ways; that’s in the nature of things.
—Jon Meacham, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2020
All of the biggest corporate mergers, the deals that determine the vicissitudes of our global markets, happen within their walls.
—Rachel Epstein, Marie Claire, 30 Mar. 2020
Sport is usually a constant -- a field, court, track or course that is resistant to the vicissitudes of the world around us.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 12 Mar. 2020
See All Example Sentences for vicissitude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vicissitude
Noun
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Regardless, Sumner said, responding to an outbreak is an expensive ordeal for a dairy farm.—
Annika Merrilees,
Sacramento Bee,
7 Mar. 2025
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Former Vice President Mike Pence, speaking in Hong Kong in January, called on Beijing to end Lai’s ordeal.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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An impressive stint on the gauntlet drill at the Combine, however, could have given him a slight bump.—
C. Isaiah Smalls II,
Miami Herald,
3 Mar. 2025
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Some veteran players hold faster to the hierarchy and make prospects and younger players run the gauntlet, but Mayer said that hasn’t been the case in the Red Sox clubhouse.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Agnes no doubt spent an enormous time wallowing in her misfortune, but that’s not the picture Victor is presenting here.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2025
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That success, Benicio said, has attracted at least one scammer attempting to capitalize on his family’s misfortune.—
Connor Sheets,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Economic privation could further encourage violent competition between Syrian armed groups over territory and revenues.—
Sam Heller,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2024
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But envisioning the privation that followed, with Panguna shut down, requires little imagination.—
Sean Williams,
Harper's Magazine,
23 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Vicissitude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vicissitude. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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