as in gauntlet
a test of faith, patience, or strength
the hikers were finally rescued after a three-day ordeal in the wilderness
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ordeal
Daughters Rue Rose, 5, and Junie, 9, close out the album by thanking their mother for making it to the other side of her ordeal.
—
Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
Held captive in a shadowy basement, Michelle’s ordeal blurs the line between paranoia and revelation on Teddy’s remote ranch, where his hive of bees becomes a haunting metaphor for control.
—Tiana Denicola, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
The ordeal proved to be worth it, though, as Senna would win his third driver’s championship, and second in a row, at season’s end.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2025
The ordeal was so emotionally taxing, Trumpy collapsed in tears when the call ended.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordeal
Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
Held captive in a shadowy basement, Michelle’s ordeal blurs the line between paranoia and revelation on Teddy’s remote ranch, where his hive of bees becomes a haunting metaphor for control.
—Tiana Denicola, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
The ordeal proved to be worth it, though, as Senna would win his third driver’s championship, and second in a row, at season’s end.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2025
The ordeal was so emotionally taxing, Trumpy collapsed in tears when the call ended.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordeal
Noun
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The divisional gauntlet continues with the Bengals twice and the Steelers once over the next five weeks.—
Hannah Vanbiber,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
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The trail through this passage is narrow and lined with signature desert plants — which is to say my path became a gauntlet of tiny, stabbing swords.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The only person ever executed in Israel was Adolf Eichmann, a key architect of the Holocaust, who was hanged in 1962 after he famously was captured by Israeli intelligence agents in Argentina and subsequently convicted in a landmark trial.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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Michelle Pascucci, state trial attorney for the Massachusetts Attorney General's office, said that the USDA could have issued another guidance memo when the Supreme Court's stay took effect.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Adding fuel to the fire, China also released at least four WWII films this year, including some that depict the Nanjing Massacre and the sinking of a Japanese vessel.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
12 Nov. 2025
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An ugly opening half, which featured the teams combining for 6-of-24 shooting in the game’s first 10 minutes, saw the visiting Wildcats catch fire from beyond the arc.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Virtual and physical demonstrations and presentations familiarized the audience, a cross-section of entertainment, finance and technology pros, with the companies’ innovations and ambitions.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
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Reggaeton is one of the most popular genres in the world, a cross between reggae and hip-hop and Afro Caribbean sounds.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ordeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordeal. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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