meet with misfortune

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "meet with misfortune" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone experiencing bad luck or adverse circumstances. Example: "Despite their best efforts, they seemed to meet with misfortune at every turn during their journey."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Also, the appearance of these stars coincided with the sailing season in antiquity; sailors were well advised to set sail only when the Pleiades were visible at night, lest they meet with misfortune.

Wikipedia

Two studies, incorporating the responses of 395 college students, found that those who were more physically attractive were more likely to agree with statements like: "I feel that people get what they are entitled to have" and "I feel that people who meet with misfortune have brought it on themselves".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In the months that followed, Durazzo held firm against the Normans, and Bohemond met with misfortune in Albania.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Russian Aliya Mustafina only managed to raise a smile when one of her competitors met with misfortune, prompting one comedian to suggest her expression was "brought to you by salt and vinegar".

Independent

As captive I belong to the Carthaginians; yet, inasmuch as I met with misfortune not from cowardice, but from zeal, I am not only a Roman, but I also have your cause at heart.

University of Chicago

The bad news is that Sporting have been anything but consistent over September, and will have to hope several players on international duty this week don't meet with any misfortune.

The Guardian - Sport

Homer purchases a severed monkey's hand that will grant four wishes, despite the vendor's warning that the wisher will meet with grave misfortune.

Wikipedia

Services rendered to them were often repaid by gifts of gold from their hoards; but those who stole their treasures either met with great misfortune thereafter or found the gold turned to dead leaves when they reached home.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I meet with them.

The New York Times - Arts

We meet with directors.

The New York Times

They meet with them.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "meet with misfortune", consider the context to determine if a more specific or vivid term might be more impactful. For example, instead of saying a business "met with misfortune", you could specify that it "suffered a financial setback".

Common error

Avoid using "meet with misfortune" in overly passive constructions that obscure the cause of the misfortune. Instead of saying "Misfortune was met with", specify who experienced the misfortune: "The company met with misfortune after the economic downturn."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meet with misfortune" functions as a verbal phrase used to describe an experience of bad luck or adverse circumstances. As evidenced by Ludwig, this expression typically involves a subject (person or entity) encountering or undergoing negative events.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "meet with misfortune" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe the experience of encountering bad luck or adverse events. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. While not exceedingly common, it appears across various contexts, particularly in news, academic writing, and encyclopedias, conveying a neutral tone. Alternatives such as "encounter hardship" or "experience adversity" offer similar meanings. When using the phrase, ensure it's placed in an active construction to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encounter hardship

Replaces "meet with misfortune" with a more direct term for experiencing difficulties.

experience adversity

Similar to "encounter hardship" but emphasizes the challenging nature of the experience.

suffer a setback

Focuses on a specific event that hinders progress, rather than a general state of misfortune.

fall on hard times

Idiomatic expression indicating a period of difficulty or poverty.

have a run of bad luck

Emphasizes the role of chance in experiencing misfortune.

be plagued by ill fortune

Suggests a persistent and unavoidable experience of misfortune.

face unforeseen challenges

Highlights the unexpected nature of the difficulties.

endure a period of suffering

Emphasizes the prolonged and painful nature of the misfortune.

become a victim of circumstance

Suggests misfortune arises from external factors beyond one's control.

draw the short straw

Idiomatic expression emphasizing that someone was unlucky compared to others.

FAQs

How can I use "meet with misfortune" in a sentence?

You can use "meet with misfortune" to describe someone experiencing bad luck or adverse circumstances. For example: "Despite their best efforts, they seemed to "meet with misfortune" at every turn during their journey."

What are some alternatives to "meet with misfortune"?

Alternatives include phrases like "encounter hardship", "experience adversity", or "suffer a setback", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it better to say "meet with misfortune" or "experience misfortune"?

"Meet with misfortune" and "experience misfortune" are both grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to express. "Meet with misfortune" can suggest a more active encounter, while "experience misfortune" emphasizes the state of undergoing hardship.

What's the difference between "meet with misfortune" and "face adversity"?

"Meet with misfortune" generally refers to specific instances of bad luck or unfortunate events. "Face adversity", on the other hand, suggests a more prolonged or ongoing struggle against difficult circumstances. The phrase "face adversity" indicates resilience in overcoming challenges.