Ordeal — synonyms, definition

1. ordeal (Noun)

adversity affliction asperity assay austerity burden calamity crisis cross cruelty difficulty emergency encumbrance grief grievance hardness hardship harshness hell impediment • • •

ordeal (Noun) — A severe or trying experience.

ordeal (Noun) — 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.

experience trial