noun
a state of misfortune or affliction
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debt-ridden farmers struggling with adversity
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a life of hardship
• Hypernyms: ↑misfortune, ↑bad luck, ↑tough luck, ↑ill luck
• Hyponyms:
↑ill-being, ↑catastrophe, ↑disaster, ↑extremity, ↑distress, ↑affliction, ↑victimization, ↑nadir, ↑low-water mark
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Informal.
adversity or hardships.
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Main Entry: ↑hard
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hard knocks
: difficult or painful experiences that people have in their lives or careers
He has taken plenty of hard knocks in his life.
The school of hard knocks [=the difficult experiences in his life] taught him how to be tough.
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Main Entry: ↑knock
Useful english dictionary. 2012.