noun
ordeal
aw-DEEL
noun
1
A very difficult, painful, or exhausting experience.
"The hostages described their three-day ordeal in harrowing detail."
"Recovering from the surgery was a long ordeal for her."
2
Historically, a trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous physical test, the outcome believed to reveal guilt or innocence by divine judgment.
"In medieval trials by ordeal, the accused might be forced to hold a hot iron."
How to Use Ordeal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA harsh, drawn-out experience that tests someone's endurance — historically, a trial by dangerous physical test.
Common pairings
a harrowing ordeal
survive an ordeal
put someone through an ordeal
Word Forms
ordeals plural
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The hostages described their three-day _____ in harrowing detail.
Etymology
From Old English ordēl, literally "a judgement dealt out" — related to the modern word "deal."