as in fires
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 ordeals
The medical ordeals are traumatic and disgusting, but fascinating and full of the quirks of modern life.
—
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Both women survived, but are still reeling from ordeals that have drawn national attention — in part, because they were captured on video and shared on social media.
—CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
On Instagram, and even on her reality show, Kardashian comes across as thrillingly impervious, wearing impassivity like body armor and putting her body and face through Olympian ordeals to draw our collective gaze.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
In today’s housing market, even the lucky ones often face exhausting ordeals and need to stretch their budgets to land a home.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
Kruse and Fialko invested seven figures into rebuilding Priscilla’s brand, stabilizing her finances, settling her lawsuits, cleaning up numerous private family ordeals, and attempting to help Priscilla repair her relationship with her daughter.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
Both women survived, but are still reeling from ordeals that have drawn national attention — in part, because they were captured on video and shared on social media.
—CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
On Instagram, and even on her reality show, Kardashian comes across as thrillingly impervious, wearing impassivity like body armor and putting her body and face through Olympian ordeals to draw our collective gaze.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
In today’s housing market, even the lucky ones often face exhausting ordeals and need to stretch their budgets to land a home.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025
Kruse and Fialko invested seven figures into rebuilding Priscilla’s brand, stabilizing her finances, settling her lawsuits, cleaning up numerous private family ordeals, and attempting to help Priscilla repair her relationship with her daughter.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordeals
Noun
-
Smaller fires have already been lit, dotting the plaza.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
In the year since the property has been vacant, and fenced off, 27 fires have gutted or scorched empty units, located between Truman Road and 18th Street, Woodland and Brooklyn avenues.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
However, according to Sounwave, Lamar’s chief producer and longtime friend, GNX was in the works long before any gauntlets were thrown.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
30 Dec. 2025
-
However, according to Sounwave, Lamar’s chief producer and longtime friend, GNX was in the works long before any gauntlets were thrown.—
Preezy Brown,
Rolling Stone,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Close unused services and delete accounts tied to outdated app subscriptions or trials.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The Eagles Eye trials involved personnel from multiple Royal Navy squadrons, as well as industry partners including MarWorks, TeleplanForsberg, C3IA, General Dynamics, UAV Aerosystems and Collins Aerospace.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordeals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordeals. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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