TRIAL Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

trial 1 of 2

noun

ˈtrī(-ə)l

Definition of trial

as in ordeal

a test of faith, patience, or strength living with her insufferable relatives was a real trial

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in rehearsal

a private performance or session in preparation for a public appearance ran another trial of the aerial performance before opening night

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in test

a procedure or operation carried out to resolve an uncertainty trials by medical researchers haven't determined whether the medication is safe or not

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in attempt

an effort to do or accomplish something will rest and make another trial at climbing the mountain

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in headache

something that is a source of irritation trying to have a coherent phone conversation with his senile father was always a trial

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

trial

2 of 2

adjective

as in experimental

made or done as an experiment a trial medical procedure that should be considered only after all other options have been exhausted

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of trial

Noun

The settlement eliminates the need to resolve that remaining question at trial. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 The killings of Murdaugh’s wife and son and his subsequent six-week trial captivated the true crime world with a mix of treachery, corruption, money, power and Southern accents. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 After an internal trial, the IAFF retained some charges against Escobar. — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Busfield, who has insisted be was innocent of the charges, was released from custody pending trial. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for trial

Noun

His ordeal would go on to become one of the most egregious examples of prosecutorial misconduct in the United States.

— Madeleine Baran, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
That entire ordeal is presented in detail, a backstage drama in miniature that treats the boardroom soap opera as the last chance to keep Pandora’s box shut.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of ordeal

Noun

The new tier of intermediate-sized banks would have a community development test, but not an investment and service metric that large banks are graded on.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
And what about OpenAI’s Sam Altman, whose models hacked their way out of a test this summer and launched a cyberattack against the AI company Hugging Face?

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of test

Noun

Days before the execution attempt, Lee rejected the clemency request.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
Distributed by Hive Media Corp, the drama reconstructs the August 15, 1974 assassination attempt on President Park Chung-hee and stars Yu Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho as figures probing contradictions in the state’s official inquiry.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of attempt

Noun

The biggest headache for Thune was the Save America Act, a voter ID bill that lacked a strategy to become law in the Senate.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
In Meta’s case, creepy video-recording incidents and privacy-light tampering have caused severe headaches for the company.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of headache

Adjective

The people-watching can be just as good as the art, as creative types from around the city come here to find inspiration—especially during the summer months, when the museum throws its popular experimental music parties called Warm Up.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
Elsewhere, Arca took festival glam into more experimental territory with graphic liner and a delicate flush of pink, while Elisha Herbert embraced a smoky, high-shine look for Mugler.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of experimental

Noun

Helen, Rob and Emily McDaniel's wood-fire-and-coal-cooking restaurant, is a cozy downtown spot that serves up chicken thighs, angel biscuits, and tomato pie.

— Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
The Forest Service lowered fire restrictions to Stage 1 earlier this month.

— The Know, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026