Word of the Day

: September 30, 2024

tribulation

noun trib-yuh-LAY-shun

What It Means

Tribulation, which is often used in the phrase "trials and tribulations," refers to an experience that causes suffering. It can also mean "unhappiness, pain, or suffering."

// The new graduate knew that the journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur would come with some trials and tribulations.

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tribulation in Context

"[Chennedy] Carter doesn't shy away from the tribulations of her early years in the WNBA. She has spoken at length this season about how her year away from the WNBA allowed her to grow on and off the court. Still, there's a competitive edge to Carter that won't ever be tamed." — Annie Costabile, The Chicago Sun-Times, 6 Aug. 2024

Did You Know?

It would be an understatement to say that undergoing trials and tribulations is a drag, but the origins of the word tribulation have much to do with literal dragging. Tribulation comes (via Anglo-French) from the Latin noun tribulum, which refers to an ancient tool that separates grain seed from the rest of the plant when it is dragged over a harvest. If one imagines such a thresher working on a human being—a harrowing thought, indeed—the connection to tribulation’s present meaning is understandable. These days, tribulation is commonly used as a plural noun and paired with trials to refer to any kind of drawn-out struggle, though lovers of John Milton's famous 17th century epic poem Paradise Lost may recognize it, unpaired, from a passage describing life as "Tri'd in sharp tribulation, and refin'd / By Faith and faithful works."