vulnerable to adversity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vulnerable to adversity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that is susceptible to challenges or difficult situations. Example: "Children from unstable backgrounds may be more vulnerable to adversity as they grow up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

She said people were discouraged from saving for retirement by unaffordable house prices, which only meant they were more vulnerable to adversity such as sudden redundancy or the end of a relationship.

The Guardian

What's curious is that the more medically hardy young people were no less anxious or depressed than their less fortunate peers, which suggests that while being more resilient makes you less vulnerable to adversity, it doesn't guarantee happiness — or even an awareness of being resilient.

The New York Times

The classic diathesis-stress framework, which views some individuals as particularly vulnerable to adversity, informs virtually all psychiatric research on behavior-gene-environment (G x E) interaction.

Duke University

Thus, this view extends the traditional diathesis-stress model, by making the observation that individuals disproportionately vulnerable to adversity are also most likely to benefit from highly supportive environments (see also [39]).

Plosone

As such, these findings are consistent with a differential susceptibility model [33], [34] predicting that the very same characteristics that make individuals disproportionately vulnerable to adversity also make them more likely to benefit from favorable contexts.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"The key point is that our external situation means we remain particularly vulnerable to adversities.

The Guardian

There is a care gap in service provision for many young people who continue to suffer pervasive and impairing ADHD symptoms and who remain vulnerable to psychosocial adversity.

BMC Psychiatry

Although the tribal population is considered vulnerable to innumerable adversities, regretfully information about pregnancy wastage among them is not available.

BMC Public Health

18 This is particularly worrying, since children are especially vulnerable to environmental adversities because of their greater exposure, greater sensitivity to certain exposures and dependence on care givers.

BMJ Open

Recent research has found that some children develop adequate resilience, while others do not, leaving them more vulnerable to long-term negative consequences from adversity.

The Washington Post

For example, those with the BDNF p.Met66 allele might be more vulnerable to the effects of early life adversity and alcohol use.

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience. In formal or scientific writing, "vulnerable to adversity" is perfectly acceptable. In less formal contexts, consider alternatives like "faces challenges" for better engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "vulnerable to adversity" as a blanket statement without specifying the type or source of adversity. Providing specific examples makes the assertion more credible and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vulnerable to adversity" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, indicating a susceptibility or openness to negative experiences or challenges. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "vulnerable to adversity" is a grammatically correct and useful way to describe a susceptibility to difficult situations, as validated by Ludwig. It's most frequently found in news, scientific, and academic contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. While "vulnerable to adversity" is perfectly acceptable, writers should consider alternatives like "susceptible to hardship" or "at risk of difficulties" depending on the desired tone and audience. Remember to be specific about the type of adversity to enhance clarity and impact. Ludwig AI confirms the accuracy and usability of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

susceptible to hardship

Replaces "adversity" with "hardship", implying a state of being easily affected by difficult conditions.

prone to misfortune

Uses "prone" instead of "vulnerable" and "misfortune" instead of "adversity", suggesting a tendency towards unfavorable events.

at risk of difficulties

Employs "at risk" to convey vulnerability and "difficulties" as a broader term for adversity.

exposed to challenges

Highlights the exposure aspect of vulnerability, using "challenges" as a synonym for adversity.

sensitive to setbacks

Focuses on sensitivity to negative events, replacing "adversity" with "setbacks".

easily affected by hardship

Emphasizes the ease with which one is affected by difficult conditions.

susceptible to negative experiences

Replaces "adversity" with the broader term "negative experiences", indicating vulnerability to a wide range of unfavorable situations.

open to difficult situations

Highlights the openness or susceptibility to facing challenging circumstances.

unprotected against misfortune

Focuses on the lack of protection against unfavorable events or conditions.

defenseless against adversity

Emphasizes a lack of defense mechanisms when facing hardship or unfavorable conditions.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "vulnerable to adversity"?

Being "vulnerable to adversity" means being susceptible or easily affected by difficult or challenging situations. It implies a lack of resilience or resources to withstand hardship.

How can I use "vulnerable to adversity" in a sentence?

You can use "vulnerable to adversity" to describe individuals, groups, or systems that are at risk of being negatively impacted by hardship. For example, "Children from unstable backgrounds may be more "vulnerable to adversity" as they grow up."

What are some alternatives to "vulnerable to adversity"?

Alternatives include "susceptible to hardship", "prone to misfortune", or "at risk of difficulties", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

What factors can make someone "vulnerable to adversity"?

Factors that can increase vulnerability to adversity include poverty, lack of social support, discrimination, pre-existing health conditions, and exposure to trauma.