as in pains
a state of great suffering of body or mind
a documentary chronicling the lasting tribulation of Holocaust survivors
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Recent Examples of tribulations
Set outside of Carson City, Nevada, during the 1860s on a fictional ranch called Ponderosa, the show followed the adventures and tribulations of the Cartwright family.
—
David Faris, TheWeek, 18 Feb. 2026
The 30-year-old Somali American, who also co-owns a Mediterranean restaurant in the same area experiencing similar economic tribulations, described his coffee shops as local melting pots for Muslims and non-Muslims, East Africans and White people.
—Yahya Salem, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
Directed by Craig Brewer, it’s based on a 2008 documentary by the same name, available to watch on YouTube, about Lightning & Thunder’s triumphs and tribulations.
—Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Plenty of male filmmakers have successfully aligned themselves with the daily tribulations of women — hello to the Dardenne brothers and Éric Rohmer, amongst others.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 2026
Getting forced to play little league baseball is about as emo as youthful tribulations get.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 10 Feb. 2026
Current totals of seven league goals and four assists suggest those early-season tribulations have been vanquished.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Such tribulations have hidden the kind of personal growth that Kerr has undergone as a coach, even if the record does not indicate it.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 25 Dec. 2025
In addition to Malcolm and Violet, the book follows the tribulations of another couple, Aaron and Cassandra, and a professor named Antonia, all of whom are connected through friendships and romantic history.
—Willing Davidson, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
David Faris, TheWeek, 18 Feb. 2026
The 30-year-old Somali American, who also co-owns a Mediterranean restaurant in the same area experiencing similar economic tribulations, described his coffee shops as local melting pots for Muslims and non-Muslims, East Africans and White people.
—Yahya Salem, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
Directed by Craig Brewer, it’s based on a 2008 documentary by the same name, available to watch on YouTube, about Lightning & Thunder’s triumphs and tribulations.
—Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Plenty of male filmmakers have successfully aligned themselves with the daily tribulations of women — hello to the Dardenne brothers and Éric Rohmer, amongst others.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 2026
Getting forced to play little league baseball is about as emo as youthful tribulations get.
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 10 Feb. 2026
Current totals of seven league goals and four assists suggest those early-season tribulations have been vanquished.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Such tribulations have hidden the kind of personal growth that Kerr has undergone as a coach, even if the record does not indicate it.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 25 Dec. 2025
In addition to Malcolm and Violet, the book follows the tribulations of another couple, Aaron and Cassandra, and a professor named Antonia, all of whom are connected through friendships and romantic history.
—Willing Davidson, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tribulations
Noun
-
After a whole season exploring the pains of being an illegitimate child and fears of pregnancy, Sophie and Benedict are now free to have children that would be welcomed warmly into society.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
-
But these are the standard-issue growing pains the NHL routinely beats into developing rosters.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Hadi’s exceptional attention gives cinematic identity to collective artisanal energy, to the life force of care and devotion that stands outside the agonies of politics, to the spirit that endures a regime and outlives it.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This week’s massive winter storm dumped more than a foot of snow on at least 19 states, including those like Texas and Tennessee that are less prepared to deal with the miseries of winter weather.—
Amy Feldman,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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The victims of prejudice and inequality are always the best guardians of the ramparts that sustain those miseries.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
23 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tribulations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tribulations. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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