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ordeal

/ɔɹˈdil/noun2 syllables

Ordeal means: 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.

Synonyms for ordeal1

noun, as in 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

trial by ordeal

What does ordeal mean?2

noun

1

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

2

a severe or trying experience

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with ordeal?25

Show 40 near rhymes
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Ordeal in a sentence

  • Bob has to get through this ordeal on his own.CN
  • Layla's ordeal in the outback was just beginning.OsoHombre
  • He cried thinking about his ordeal and its unending aftermath.LK
  • Rodrigo's online bullying ordeal involved receiving threatening messages and being constantly ridiculed.Amastan
  • The ordeal was over once the noise stopped.Amastan
  • It was a serious ordeal for both of us.frpzzd
  • After ten days of ingesting poison, Fadil's horrible ordeal finally ended with his death.OsoHombre
  • I'm sorry I can't be by your side during this painful ordeal.Jenn

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of ordeal

as a noun

plural
ordeals