as in gauntlet
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
Molly was safely transported back to the mainland, where Johnston met her, and the two had an emotional reunion after an eight-day ordeal.
—
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
In a series of posts to social media on Tuesday, March 31, Kristin Gallant, a parenting coach and co-founder of Big Little Feelings, detailed a scary ordeal that left her spouse Tyler hospitalized in Desert Regional Medical Center’s ER for their 10-year-anniversary.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
For Nissa True, the owner of Smithville’s Pizza Shoppe, the community support has made the whole ordeal much easier to endure.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
The artist went viral this month after prevailing in a legal ordeal that began four years ago when authorities raided his home to search for evidence for drug trafficking and kidnapping, but failed to find any.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordeal
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
In a series of posts to social media on Tuesday, March 31, Kristin Gallant, a parenting coach and co-founder of Big Little Feelings, detailed a scary ordeal that left her spouse Tyler hospitalized in Desert Regional Medical Center’s ER for their 10-year-anniversary.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
For Nissa True, the owner of Smithville’s Pizza Shoppe, the community support has made the whole ordeal much easier to endure.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
The artist went viral this month after prevailing in a legal ordeal that began four years ago when authorities raided his home to search for evidence for drug trafficking and kidnapping, but failed to find any.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordeal
Noun
-
But a northern climate, stringent building codes, and the gauntlet of public review shouldn’t exclude the immense trove of experienced professionals who have worked in big, dense cities that are more similar to than different from ours.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
1 Apr. 2026
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Yes, UConn was undefeated, but did the Huskies really have a better season than UCLA considering the gantlet the Bruins had to face?—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When Motta was indicted, she had been permitted to stay out of prison pending trial.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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But just a week before the trial was to begin, Rose's defense attorney approached Nichols about a plea deal.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Both people who live in Kansas City and people who work in Kansas City currently pay 1% of their income into the city’s general fund, which funds 45% of the city’s general budget and pays for services like trash collection, fire services and affordable housing programs.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
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Yearning to light some tech on fire is a relatable feeling these days, as generative artificial intelligence promises to supplant nearly every form of non-physical labor, social media wreaks havoc on the mental health of young people, and massive data centers loom as environmental blights.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Stantis’ drawing shows Jesus hanging on a cross with oversized bombs and mortar shells flying helter-skelter in the air.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Skahan put away a first-touch shot, off a cross played by Tsakiris, from the top of the 6-yard box in the 45th minute and scored from near the penalty spot in the 49th to give San Jose a 2-1 lead.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordeal. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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