1
as in ordeals
a test of faith, patience, or strength
living with her insufferable relatives was a real trial
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 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
-
But the responsibility to inform should not fall on the shoulders of the women who’ve survived these ordeals.—
Tina Sturdevant,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
-
Others have also turned their personal ordeals into stories of inspiration.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The juries, on the other hand, have spent the past few months with this music, having observed the performers at pre-parties and rehearsals.—
Glen Weldon,
NPR,
14 May 2026
-
Thaddea Graham and Nick Offerman praised their stunt coordinators and the team behind the scene, who made time for extensive stunt rehearsals and thought through all the aspects that seamlessly show up on camera.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Initial tests suggested the outbreak may not involve the Ebola Zaire strain, which was responsible for Congo’s devastating 2018-2020 epidemic that killed more than 1,000 people.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
Once there, the astronauts will attempt to dock the capsule with a lunar lander vehicle and perform a series of other tests designed to assess the agency’s readiness to attempt a human moon landing.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
The White Sox beat the Royals 6-5 on Wednesday night at Rate Field for Chicago’s fourth victory in six tries against KC this season.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
-
Donovan Mitchell has never been out of the second round in eight previous tries.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trials.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trials. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
