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
Most people want to know how to keep bed bugs away from their homes because, unlike more harmless bugs crawling around the house, a bed bug infestation is a massive ordeal.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026
They are also relieved — relieved that this dumb ordeal may finally be coming to an end.
—S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
During the nine-month-long ordeal, the then-14-year-old was subjected to daily rapes and endured physical abuse and starvation.
—Stephanie Kaloi, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
The ordeal played out for the next 63 hair-raising hours until officials brought it to a peaceful end.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordeal
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026
They are also relieved — relieved that this dumb ordeal may finally be coming to an end.
—S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
During the nine-month-long ordeal, the then-14-year-old was subjected to daily rapes and endured physical abuse and starvation.
—Stephanie Kaloi, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
The ordeal played out for the next 63 hair-raising hours until officials brought it to a peaceful end.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordeal
Noun
-
In the final, Black & Alshon threw down the gauntlet, beating the top pair in three straight for gold.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Amid the gauntlet of billboards touting fast food, urgent care and gasoline, along busy Route 41 is one that stands out more than ever now.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Jackson, who famously won an acquittal in the murder trial of Karen Read and represented disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein, did not explain his decision to withdraw from the case.—
Matt Gutman,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Dugan was suspended by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in April, but continued to collect her roughly $175,000 annual salary while awaiting trial.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Jets fire Engstrand The New York Jets are searching for a new offensive coordinator after parting ways with Tanner Engstrand.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
-
For Ramsay, who was personally impacted by the fires, the night carried emotional weight.—
Michelle Edgar,
Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Styles hit a cross body to the outside and sold his ribs.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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In Hoffman’s hands, Elliot looks like a cross between the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman (the young actor’s dad) and a roguishly handsome member of the Kennedy clan.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordeal. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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