as in gauntlet
a test of faith, patience, or strength
the hikers were finally rescued after a three-day ordeal in the wilderness
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Recent Examples of ordeal
This torturous ordeal marked Mee’s first time entering this cave, located in the foothills of a mining project near the village of Long Tieng, hours away from the nearest cities and on muddy roads that have been lashed by the rainy season.
—
Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
The Fay in downtown San Jose was purchased by an alliance of real estate executives, ending a foreclosure ordeal that arrived on the heels of a pilot program to create affordable housing in the apartment tower.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
With two weeks to go until the World Cup, more cities and towns in Massachusetts are getting the green light from FIFA to host watch parties after what's been a frustrating ordeal for some.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 28 May 2026
The many, many meetings During a two-day stretch in early May, 25 players went through the same ordeal as Ruiz.
—Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordeal
Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
The Fay in downtown San Jose was purchased by an alliance of real estate executives, ending a foreclosure ordeal that arrived on the heels of a pilot program to create affordable housing in the apartment tower.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
With two weeks to go until the World Cup, more cities and towns in Massachusetts are getting the green light from FIFA to host watch parties after what's been a frustrating ordeal for some.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 28 May 2026
The many, many meetings During a two-day stretch in early May, 25 players went through the same ordeal as Ruiz.
—Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordeal
Noun
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But the coaching search is a similar gauntlet for a different type of talent identification.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
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That being said, whether to try to get closer for better missile shots, while running the gauntlet of Ukrainian SAM units.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
25 May 2026
Noun
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Laura said Vallow Daybell's actions during the trial did not meet the serious nature of the courtroom.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
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Lewis oversaw workshops with school kids himself, traveling to schools in his free time, staging mock trials and handing out copies of legal documents, like the Constitution.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 May 2026
Noun
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Zelensky also posted footage showing explosions and several fires at one Russian facility and a huge plume of thick, black smoke rising behind a high-rise building.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
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Sherrill cited public safety concerns after officials reported protesters had set tires and chairs on fire, thrown makeshift projectiles and weaponized police shields.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
Noun
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The Park An LGBTQ+-friendly bar, The Park Dance Club attracts a broad cross-section of Roanoke residents, including gay and straight partiers of all ages, Ferguson says.—
Julekha Dash,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
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After the zapfest on Earth, the anti-climactic tussle between the forces of good and evil occurs back on Eternia, where He-Man and his nemesis cross swords in a clumsy fight that’s not only predictable but also photographed and edited poorly.—
Jeffrey Ressner,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordeal. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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