as in fire
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
But while the fatality rate for most wheel well stowaways is high, some people have survived the ordeal.
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Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024
This throws Johnson’s Speakership into question: Some Republicans are questioning their support for Johnson after his handling of the ordeal.
—Cate Martel, The Hill, 19 Dec. 2024
The whole ordeal has left her feeling changed for the better.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2024
That, for me, has been the biggest takeaway from this whole ordeal.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ordeal 
Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024
This throws Johnson’s Speakership into question: Some Republicans are questioning their support for Johnson after his handling of the ordeal.
—Cate Martel, The Hill, 19 Dec. 2024
The whole ordeal has left her feeling changed for the better.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2024
That, for me, has been the biggest takeaway from this whole ordeal.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ordeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordeal
Noun
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There’s no clear timeline yet, said county Office of Emergency Management Director Kevin McGowan, as crews rush to remove fire debris and hazardous waste.Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
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Examine the training methods of fire fighting crews and share that here, too.Jordan Bianchi, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But those lines, and those gauntlets, differ depending who is asked.Will Carless, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2025
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The Chiefs, though, are in a bit of a difficult position, considering their gauntlet of a schedule coming up with games played on Saturday vs. the Texans and then Wednesday at the Pittsburgh Steelers.Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
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But in the downtown criminal courthouse, the absence of defendants derailed proceedings in several cases, including at least one murder trial slated to begin closing arguments Friday.Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
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By comparison, challenge trial studies typically attract fewer than 100 subjects.Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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His 16-minute cameo against Tottenham Hotspur in November provided flickers of the Belgian at his glorious best, threading the ball for Erling Haaland moments after coming on, before swinging in a first-time cross that was scuffed over the bar by a back-tracking defence.The Athletic UK Staff, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
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Now there’s Crush, which reads almost like a cross between the two.Vulture Editors, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near ordeal
Cite this Entry
“Ordeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordeal. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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