ordeal

noun/ɔrˈdil/

Frequency rank: #7,945 most common English word

Meaning

a very difficult or painful experience that tests one's endurance.

Illustration for the English word “ordeal”

Example sentence

Surviving the jungle for two weeks without food was quite ordeal for the hikers.

Synonyms & related words

Practice this word in the quiz

More words in ranks 7,901–8,000