ordeal

Meaning

A physical or mental painful experience that must be endured

a painful or horrific experience; a severe trial or test

A very difficult or painful experience, often lasting for a long time.

Example Sentences

Surviving the wilderness was a tough ordeal for them.

The refugees went through a terrible ordeal during the war.

The survivors went through a terrible ordeal after the earthquake.

Example Expressions

trial by ordeal

Synonyms

trial, hardship, struggle, tribulation, suffering, agony

Entry 1

trial, hardship, struggle

Entry 2

trial, tribulation, hardship, suffering

Entry 3

trial, hardship, suffering, agony, tribulation

Antonyms

comfort, relief, ease, pleasure, blessing

Entry 1

comfort, relief, ease

Entry 2

pleasure, comfort, ease, blessing

Entry 3

comfort, relief, ease

Collocations

terrible ordeal, survive ordeal, endure ordeal, face an ordeal, survive an ordeal, long ordeal

Entry 2

terrible ordeal, survive ordeal, endure ordeal

Entry 3

face an ordeal, survive an ordeal, terrible ordeal, long ordeal