Thesaurus results for ORDEALS

ordeals

noun

plural of ordeal

as in fires

a test of faith, patience, or strength the hikers were finally rescued after a three-day ordeal in the wilderness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of ordeals But passengers don’t have to be helpless during these stressful ordeals. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026 The two have remained united throughout the murder investigation and subsequent legal ordeals regarding Kohberger. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026 Through their fantastical ordeals, the X-Men illustrate qualities that inspire viewers, young and old. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 People who have been at this work longer, or have survived similar ordeals, can help a mentee see around corners. — Literary Hub, 30 June 2026 Meanwhile, Phillips said, victims are left to live with the impacts of the perpetrators’ actions — with the survivors in this case forced to continue to relive their ordeals as the case continues on to the Court of Appeal. — Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 3 June 2026 And for that matter, how could adults accurately account for such ordeals? — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 May 2026 But the responsibility to inform should not fall on the shoulders of the women who’ve survived these ordeals. — Tina Sturdevant, New York Times, 10 May 2026 Others have also turned their personal ordeals into stories of inspiration. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordeals

Noun

The haze comes primarily from western Indonesia where forest and peatland fires often are started to clear land for farming.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Each time a shutter fires, and each time a tire squeals, involves countless pieces working together to deliver a smooth outcome.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of fires

Noun

Both Disney+ and Netflix have laid down similar gauntlets over the past few years.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026
Perhaps in writing it, Salinger was trying to negotiate whether his remarkable survival through some of the war’s worst gauntlets could be chalked up to dumb luck, or divine intervention.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of gauntlets

Noun

Long presented the results at the 2026 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Madrid last Saturday, confirming earlier press reports and supporting previous trials on the treatment’s benefits.

— Mike McRae October 25, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026
Physical changes can be simulated, but live trials affect staff, customers and workflows, making isolation and repeatability much harder.

— Maria Zhang, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of trials

Browse Nearby Words

ordeal

ordeals

order

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ordeals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordeals. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of ordeals

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

reticent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes