Categories: GeneralSynonyms

ORDEAL: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for ORDEAL?

Need another word that means the same as “ordeal”? Find 15 synonyms and 30 related words for “ordeal” in this overview.

Table Of Contents:

Ordeal as a Noun
Definitions of "Ordeal" as a noun
Synonyms of "Ordeal" as a noun (15 Words)
Usage Examples of "Ordeal" as a noun
Associations of "Ordeal" (30 Words)

The synonyms of “Ordeal” are: trial by ordeal, trial, tribulation, test, nightmare, trauma, baptism of fire, hell, hell on earth, misery, trouble, difficulty, torture, torment, agony

Ordeal as a Noun

Definitions of "Ordeal" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “ordeal” as a noun can have the following definitions:

A primitive method of determining a person's guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to dangerous or painful tests believed to be under divine control; escape was usually taken as a sign of innocence.
An ancient test of guilt or innocence by subjection of the accused to severe pain, survival of which was taken as divine proof of innocence.
A severe or trying experience.
A very unpleasant and prolonged experience.

Synonyms of "Ordeal" as a noun (15 Words)

agony	A state of acute pain. He crashed to the ground in agony.
baptism of fire	A Christian sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and rebirth.
difficulty	A situation that is difficult or dangerous. There is a practical difficulty.
hell on earth	A cause of difficulty and suffering.
misery	A state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune. She was exhausted by her misery* and grief.*
nightmare	A person or situation that is very difficult to deal with. Developing thunderclouds are a balloonist s worst nightmare.
test	The act of testing something. A positive test* for protein.*
torment	A feeling of intense annoyance caused by being tormented. So great was his harassment that he wanted to destroy his tormentors.
torture	The act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean. Dances were absolute torture* because I was so small.*
trauma	Any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc. A personal trauma* like the death of a child.*
trial	A preliminary competition to determine qualifications. Candidates must compete in a trial* of skill.*
trial by ordeal	The determination of a person’s innocence or guilt by due process of law.
tribulation	A state of great trouble or suffering. The tribulations of being a megastar.
trouble	A strong feeling of anxiety. They had labor trouble.

Usage Examples of "Ordeal" as a noun

Ordeal by fire.
The ordeal of having to give evidence.
Ordeals conducted in the twelfth century.

Associations of "Ordeal" (30 Words)

abominable	Unequivocally detestable- Edmund Burke. Abominable workmanship.
abomination	A thing that causes disgust or loathing. A Calvinist abomination* of indulgence.*
alarming	Worrying or disturbing. Our countryside is disappearing at an alarming* rate.*
appalling	Causing consternation. The cat suffered appalling* injuries during the attack.*
atrocious	Provoking horror. Murder is an atrocious* crime.*
atrocity	A highly unpleasant or distasteful object. Atrocities in cheap red nylon.
awful	Awfully very. An awful* voice.*
blamed	Expletives used informally as intensifiers. It s a blamed* shame.*
dire	(of a warning or threat) presaging disaster. The concert was dire.
disservice	An act intended to help that turns out badly. You have done a disservice* to the African people by ignoring this fact.*
dread	Causing fear or dread or terror. The dread* presence of the headmaster.*
dreadful	Used to emphasize the degree to which something is the case, especially something regarded with sadness or disapproval. A dreadful* storm.*
fearful	Lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted- P.B.Shelley. Fearful of criticism.
fearsome	Causing fear or dread or terror. The cat mewed displaying a fearsome* set of teeth.*
formidable	Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable. The formidable* army of brains at the Prime Minister s disposal.*
frightening	Causing fear or dread or terror. A frightening* experience.*
frightful	Extreme in degree or extent or amount or impact. A frightful* mistake.*
ghastly	Causing great horror or fear. A ghastly* pallor.*
hellish	Extremely (used for emphasis. Hellish torture.
horrible	Causing or likely to cause horror; shocking. War is beyond all words horrible.
horrific	Causing horror. Horrific conditions in the mining industry.
nasty	Offensive or even (of persons) malicious. Plastic bags burn with a nasty* acrid smell.*
probe	Examine physically with or as if with a probe. There was a congressional probe* into the scandal.*
sadly	To a regrettable extent; regrettably. Sadly the forests of Sulawesi are now under threat.
terrible	Exceptionally bad or displeasing. The terrible* conditions in which the ordinary people lived.*
terrifying	Causing extreme terror. The terrifying* events of the past few weeks.*
test	Carry out a medical test on a person a part of the body or a body fluid. The exam will test* accuracy and neatness.*
tragedy	The dramatic genre represented by tragedies. Greek tragedy.
trial	Of a horse dog or other animal compete in trials. Clinical trials must establish whether the new hip replacements are working.
unspeakable	Not able to be expressed in words. A piece of unspeakable* abuse.*