as in fire
a test of faith, patience, or strength
the hikers were finally rescued after a three-day ordeal in the wilderness
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Recent Examples of ordeal
The whole ordeal seems to hint that Jelly Roll will make his official return as a wrestler and face off against Paul at the upcoming SummerSlam, scheduled for August 2 and 3 at East Rutherford, New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
—
Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 12 July 2025
But according to his wife, Amy, who detailed the ordeal on Facebook, the illness got so bad he was eventually put on a ventilator and, eventually, added to the list for a lung transplant.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 11 July 2025
Crissy's 75-year-old father also survived the ordeal, according to Polner.
—Jillian Frankel, People.com, 8 July 2025
The ordeal happened at Carver’s Gap, near the North Carolina-Tennessee border and a roughly 65-mile drive northeast from Asheville.
—Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordeal
Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 12 July 2025
But according to his wife, Amy, who detailed the ordeal on Facebook, the illness got so bad he was eventually put on a ventilator and, eventually, added to the list for a lung transplant.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 11 July 2025
Crissy's 75-year-old father also survived the ordeal, according to Polner.
—Jillian Frankel, People.com, 8 July 2025
The ordeal happened at Carver’s Gap, near the North Carolina-Tennessee border and a roughly 65-mile drive northeast from Asheville.
—Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordeal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordeal
Noun
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Donald Trump has ignited a five-alarm fire and the chaos has reached a fever pitch.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
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The most recent incarnation of the lodge had been operational since 1937, after a kitchen fire burned down the original in 1932.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
14 July 2025
Noun
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After the gauntlet of an audition for the first film, Meg and Milo have become household names for their young fans.—
Scott King,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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Canada qualified for the 2022 World Cup — the nation’s first appearance in the tournament since 1986 — by winning Concacaf’s qualifying gauntlet via a goal difference tiebreaker, notching meaningful wins over Mexico and the United States on home soil.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
Noun
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The agency is currently moving forward with its preparations for a trial involving Amazon’s Prime program.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
9 July 2025
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Sign up for a free 30-day trial of Prime to access every single deal.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
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When Silva could only half-clear Neto’s cross, Joao Pedro took one touch to control the ball, another to get it out from under his feet and then curled it perfectly beyond the reach of goalkeeper Fabio.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
9 July 2025
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The giant moa — a husky, wingless bird that could stand almost 12 feet tall — once booked it across New Zealand’s landscapes on legs that looked like a cross between an overgrown chicken and a Tyrannosaurus Rex.—
Andrea Marks,
Rolling Stone,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ordeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordeal. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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