calvary

noun

cal·​va·​ry ˈkal-v(ə-)rē 

plural calvaries

1

: an open-air representation of the crucifixion of Jesus

2

: an experience of usually intense mental suffering

Examples of calvary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With a few decades’ distance Miller emphasized the personal calvary over the McCarthy analogy. —Stacy Schiff, The New York Review of Books, 22 Dec. 2022

The days after news of the deaths have been a calvary for those left behind, Amarinder Singh said. —Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 11 Oct. 2022

So began a calvary of severe fatigue, brain fog, imbalance and other symptoms that are still with her eight months later. —Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2021

The Bridges lived only a few blocks from the school, but the morning trip there was a calvary for Ruby and her mother. —Emily Langer, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Calvary, the hill near Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Geographical Definition

Calvary

geographical name

Cal·​va·​ry ˈkal-v(ə-)rē 

variants or Hebrew Golgotha

ˈgäl-gə-thə 

gäl-ˈgä-thə

place outside ancient Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified