trial

1 a test of faith, patience, or strength living with her insufferable relatives was a real trial Synonyms cross, crucible, fire, gauntlet (also gantlet), ordeal Related Words baptism, initiation; adversity, affliction, asperity, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, privation, tragedy, tribulation, trouble, vicissitude, woe; acid test, litmus test; challenge, complication, difficulty, grief, grievance, hardship, rigor; annoyance, discomfort, inconvenience, nuisance Phrases baptism of fire

2 a private performance or session in preparation for a public appearance ran another trial of the aerial performance before opening night Synonyms dry run, practice (also practise), rehearsalRelated Words dress rehearsal; preview; run-through, walk-through; drill, exercise

3 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 essay, experimentation, test, experimentRelated Words trial and error; dry run, shakedown; exercise, practice (also practise), rehearsal, tryout, workout; crucible, ordeal; attempt, effort, try

4 an effort to do or accomplish something will rest and make another trial at climbing the mountain Synonyms assay [archaic], bash [chiefly British], bid, crack, endeavor, essay, fling, go, offer, pass, shot, stab, attempt, try, whack, whirlRelated Words striving, struggle, throes, undertaking; trial and error

5 something that is a source of irritation trying to have a coherent phone conversation with his senile father was always a trial Synonyms aggravation, aggro [British], bother, botheration, bugbear, exasperation, frustration, hair shirt, hassle, headache, inconvenience, irk, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest, rub, ruffle, thorn, annoyance, vexationRelated Words discomfort, fleabite, pinprick; affront, insult, offense (or offence); upset, worry; affliction, albatross, burden, cross, curse, menace, millstone, plague, sore; anxiety, plight, predicament, tribulation, trouble; hang-up, pet peeve, problem; annoyer, disturber, harasser, mischief, offender; pandora's boxNear Antonyms delight, joy, pleasure