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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With one of the deepest line-ups in the country and the SEC slate looming as a gauntlet, Kentucky’s ceiling is sky-high.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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That was before Major League Baseball expanded its postseason field two different times and turned the annual tournament into a gauntlet.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The former star running back’s post-NFL career was marred by a controversial acquittal in the famous murder trial that followed.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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Two years later, after more legal wrangling, the Connecticut Supreme Court voted narrowly to overturn his conviction, ruling that Skakel's right to a fair trial was compromised by ineffective legal representation.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Eddy came under fire after the op-ed published, with Angel City FC and the team's captain, center back Sarah Gorden, both denouncing the piece.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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Currently, there is no data on the containment status of the fire and the cause has yet to be determined.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
4 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 8 Nov. 2025.
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