Word: adversity

Associations

Adversity means facing difficulties or challenges in life. It often refers to hard times or unfavorable conditions that test a person's strength or resolve.

• Example 1: "He faced adversity when he lost his job." (This shows how losing a job can create a difficult situation.)
• Example 2: "The team showed resilience in the face of adversity." (Here, it highlights how the team remained strong despite challenges.)
• Example 3: "Overcoming adversity can lead to personal growth." (This means that dealing with tough situations can help people improve.)

A common synonym for adversity is "hardship." The main difference is that "hardship" usually emphasizes suffering and difficulty, while "adversity" can also include challenges that people might overcome.

Substitution

Other phrases that can be used instead of "adversity" include:

• "challenges," which refers more generally to any difficult situation, not necessarily one that causes suffering.
• "struggles," which emphasizes the effort and conflict in overcoming difficulties.
• "difficulties," which is a more neutral term that describes issues but doesn't imply suffering.

Deconstruction

The word "adversity" comes from the Latin word "adversus," meaning "opposed" or "against."

• "ad-" is a prefix meaning "to" or "toward."
• "versus" comes from "vertere," which means "to turn."

Together, it describes a situation that one must face that is turned against them or poses challenges.

Inquiry

• Think about a time when you faced adversity in your life. What did you learn from that experience?
• How do you think overcoming adversity can change a person's character?
• Can you think of a public figure who has faced adversity? How did they handle it?