unforeseen misfortune

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unforeseen misfortune" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an unexpected event that causes hardship or distress. Example: "The company faced unforeseen misfortune when a major supplier went out of business unexpectedly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Over three months, from Nov. 2, 2003, to Jan . 31 , 2004daily articles printed in The New York Times looked into the fragile lives of some New Yorkers and explored how unforeseen misfortune put them in the grip of poverty.

The New York Times

Barring some unforeseen misfortune, such as injury, we are going to read and hear a lot about Mo Farah in the run-up to the London Olympics, in which case we should also expect to read and hear a lot of about Alberto Salazar.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A company with no debt is highly unlikely to go bankrupt, barring unforeseen misfortunes (such as a massive legal settlement against it) or an inability to sell its products for more than it costs to create those products (evidenced by negative net income on the income statement).

WikiHow

Like Tess, Trishna (played by Freida Pinto, from "Slumdog Millionaire") is harassed by unforeseen circumstances and, at her family's behest, must relieve its misfortune by relying on the kindness of strangers.

The New York Times

Unforeseen events were everywhere.

The New York Times

Misfortune has been piled on misfortune.

The Economist

Also: misfortune hunters.

The New York Times

People suffered misfortune".

The New York Times - Sports

This is its misfortune.

The Economist

Unforeseen events occur.

The New Yorker

"That's unforeseen.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "unforeseen misfortune" with a specific example or explanation of the event's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "unforeseen misfortune" to describe situations that are simply inconvenient or slightly problematic. This phrase is best reserved for genuinely serious and unexpected events, otherwise it may sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unforeseen misfortune" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes an unexpected and unfortunate event or situation. Ludwig AI confirms it is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unforeseen misfortune" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe an unexpected and unfortunate event. While relatively rare in occurrence, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to reserve it for situations that are genuinely unpredictable and impactful, avoiding overuse in trivial cases. Related phrases like "unexpected calamity" or "sudden adversity" can offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis or formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexpected calamity

Replaces "misfortune" with "calamity", implying a more severe and disastrous event.

unanticipated tragedy

Substitutes "misfortune" with "tragedy", suggesting a deeply sorrowful and unfortunate occurrence.

sudden adversity

Replaces "unforeseen" with "sudden" and "misfortune" with "adversity", highlighting the unexpected and challenging nature of the event.

unpredicted setback

Replaces "misfortune" with "setback", focusing on the negative impact on progress or plans.

chance mishap

Highlights the accidental nature of an unfortunate event, replacing "unforeseen" with "chance" and "misfortune" with "mishap".

unexpected turn of events

This alternative focuses on the change in circumstances that led to the misfortune.

bad break

An informal way of saying that someone has experienced misfortune.

stroke of bad luck

This alternative implies that the misfortune was due to chance rather than any specific cause.

ill-fated incident

Suggests the event was destined to end poorly, replacing "unforeseen" with "ill-fated" and "misfortune" with "incident".

unlooked-for difficulty

Replaces "unforeseen" with "unlooked-for" and "misfortune" with "difficulty", highlighting the unexpected and challenging nature of the event.

FAQs

How can I use "unforeseen misfortune" in a sentence?

You can use "unforeseen misfortune" to describe an unexpected event that caused hardship or distress. For example: "The company faced unforeseen misfortune when a major supplier went out of business unexpectedly."

What are some alternatives to "unforeseen misfortune"?

You can use alternatives such as "unexpected calamity", "unanticipated tragedy", or "sudden adversity" depending on the context.

Is "unforeseen misfortune" formal or informal?

"Unforeseen misfortune" is generally considered a neutral phrase suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very casual settings, simpler alternatives might be preferred.

What's the difference between "unforeseen misfortune" and "bad luck"?

"Unforeseen misfortune" typically implies a more significant and impactful event than simply "bad luck". "Bad luck" can refer to minor inconveniences, while "unforeseen misfortune" suggests a more serious and unexpected hardship.