1
as in ordeals
a test of faith, patience, or strength
living with her insufferable relatives was a real trial
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in rehearsals
a private performance or session in preparation for a public appearance
ran another trial of the aerial performance before opening night
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in tests
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
4
as in attempts
an effort to do or accomplish something
will rest and make another trial at climbing the mountain
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in headaches
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of trials
Activist groups have long accused Iran of carrying out closed-door trials during which defendants are unable to fully defend themselves.
—
Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 12 May 2026
The mRNA vaccine technology has since advanced, and is now being tested more broadly on patients in other trials, Balachandran says.
—Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 12 May 2026
Chinese humanoid robots have also begun appearing in airports and logistics operations, including trials by Japan Airlines using systems from Unitree and UBTech Robotics at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, reports SCMP.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 May 2026
Safety studies and human trials would follow, but those would require large monetary investments.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 12 May 2026
Gayles went through his 2026 calendar, which was packed with back-to-back trials, leaving little opportunity for the 10 to 15 days the plaintiffs’ attorney Jeff Gutchess estimated was needed.
—Tess Riski
may 11, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026
Activist groups have long accused Iran of carrying out closed-door trials during which defendants are unable to fully defend themselves.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Katherine Jackson was always seen as the person there supporting him through those trials.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
Yoon faces a slew of criminal trials related to his martial law debacle and other scandals.
—ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 12 May 2026
The mRNA vaccine technology has since advanced, and is now being tested more broadly on patients in other trials, Balachandran says.
—Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 12 May 2026
Chinese humanoid robots have also begun appearing in airports and logistics operations, including trials by Japan Airlines using systems from Unitree and UBTech Robotics at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, reports SCMP.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 May 2026
Safety studies and human trials would follow, but those would require large monetary investments.
—Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 12 May 2026
Gayles went through his 2026 calendar, which was packed with back-to-back trials, leaving little opportunity for the 10 to 15 days the plaintiffs’ attorney Jeff Gutchess estimated was needed.
—Tess Riski
may 11, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026
Activist groups have long accused Iran of carrying out closed-door trials during which defendants are unable to fully defend themselves.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Katherine Jackson was always seen as the person there supporting him through those trials.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
Yoon faces a slew of criminal trials related to his martial law debacle and other scandals.
—ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trials
Noun
-
Can Arsenal survive four more ordeals?—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Others have also turned their personal ordeals into stories of inspiration.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Training to Be Ellie Houston The performance has been months in the making, with Ellie deep in rehearsals and training to get her stamina half-time ready.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
9 May 2026
-
Tomorrow’s event marks Russia’s defeat of Nazi Germany, and usually involves months of rehearsals and a huge military parade.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Parkinson on Friday revealed that the soil tests were positive for remains.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
Success at tests like puzzles and mazes, which appeared to Washburn to be the result of reasoning, or insight—observation and detection—Thorndike insisted was instead merely the result of blundering, repetition, and trial and error.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Negotiations, compromise, limited strikes, sanctions, temporary deals—none of them stopped, or could stop, Iran’s drive for nuclear-weapons capacity, its incessant efforts to subvert neighbors, or its attempts to destroy the state of Israel.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
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The Knicks treated the fans who made the trip to a historic performance, making 12 of their first 13 attempts from 3-point range and tying an NBA record with 18 made 3-pointers in the first half.—
Peter Sblendorio,
Hartford Courant,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Hantavirus, a rare disease typically caused by exposure to infected rodents’ urine or feces, can cause headaches, fever, gastrointestinal issues and respiratory problems.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
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Patient groups are jockeying for exemptions from Medicaid work requirements, but the unusually fast implementation timeline for states is causing headaches.—
John Wilkerson,
STAT,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Much of Pratt’s campaign has focused on the devastating fires in the Palisades last year and has attacked the response of Mayor Karen Bass.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
-
Pratt responded to the criticism on social media, blaming incumbent mayoral candidate Karen Bass for the destruction caused by the fires.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Science highlights among the cargo are experiments named ODYSSEY (Outcomes of microbial Dynamics during Spaceflight and in SimulatEd microgravity), STORIE (Storm Time O+ Ring current Imaging Evolution) and SPARK (Spleen Activity in Space Anemia and Red Cells Kinetics).—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
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One of the latest experiments showed how exploiting signals from both Starlink and OneWeb satellites could improve ship navigation accuracy off the west coast of Greenland in the Arctic, meaning that the technique could probably work nearly anywhere on Earth.—
Andrew Cunningham,
ArsTechnica,
11 May 2026
Noun
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The Oklahoma City Thunder overcame another valiant Lakers charge Thursday night to win their second game in two tries in the Western Conference semifinals at Paycom Center.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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England have comfortably beaten Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, the latter by running in 12 tries in an 84-7 victory, and after facing Italy this weekend, will travel to France for a likely Grand Slam decider on May 17.—
George Ramsay,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trials.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trials. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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