as in fire
a test of faith, patience, or strength
the hikers were finally rescued after a three-day ordeal in the wilderness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ordeal
What started as an innocent mispronunciation turned into a two-minute ordeal.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
The couple split in 2023 with the dispute expanding over the following year into a messy and public ordeal.
—Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 24 Jan. 2025
Kaine said she’s grown wary of SpaceX’s response to the ordeal and the Starship program in general.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 30 Jan. 2025
Killing is what kicked off this whole ordeal in the first place.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ordeal 
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
The couple split in 2023 with the dispute expanding over the following year into a messy and public ordeal.
—Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 24 Jan. 2025
Kaine said she’s grown wary of SpaceX’s response to the ordeal and the Starship program in general.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 30 Jan. 2025
Killing is what kicked off this whole ordeal in the first place.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ordeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordeal
Noun
-
The feature was added just days before the Palisades fire erupted.—
Corinne Purtill,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2025
-
The Critics Choice Awards, which was initially scheduled to take place at the beginning of January, was postponed due to the Los Angeles fires.—
Lori A Bashian Fox News,
Fox News,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
San Ramon Valley survived the gauntlet and is 22-3, a perfect 9-0 in league play and is expected to be a lock to play in the North Coast Section’s elite Open Division bracket.—
Nathan Canilao,
The Mercury News,
7 Feb. 2025
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Rewind to September, when Slot threw down the gauntlet to Szobosozlai before the Champions League game away to Milan.—
James Pearce,
The Athletic,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, the case regarding the landlord in California was headed to trial.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Feb. 2025
-
The federal trial against Combs is scheduled to begin May 5.—
Karu F. Daniels,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
An influx of political appointees would weaken those safeguards, potentially leaving Democratic donors in the cross hairs.—
STEVEN LEVITSKY,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Ronnie wore a white robe and cradled a cross in his arms.—
Lawrence Wright,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near ordeal
Cite this Entry
“Ordeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordeal. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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