When life throws curveballs, it's easy to feel like the "circumstances beyond control" are piling up. But there are plenty of synonyms to describe these situations that can help us feel more empowered. For instance, "unforeseeable events" or "unpredictable circumstances" suggest that the situation wasn't anyone's fault and could not have been avoided. "Force majeure" is a legal term that means an event or effect that cannot be anticipated or controlled. Using these synonyms can help us shift our perspective and recognize that even when things are out of our control, we still have agency in how we respond to them.