1
as in ordeals
a test of faith, patience, or strength
living with her insufferable relatives was a real trial
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in rehearsals
a private performance or session in preparation for a public appearance
ran another trial of the aerial performance before opening night
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in tests
a procedure or operation carried out to resolve an uncertainty
trials by medical researchers haven't determined whether the medication is safe or not
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in attempts
an effort to do or accomplish something
will rest and make another trial at climbing the mountain
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in headaches
something that is a source of irritation
trying to have a coherent phone conversation with his senile father was always a trial
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of trials
Since Andrea's trials, Woroniecki has continued to preach across the United States.
—
Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
DirecTV, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV all offer free trials, which allows sports fans to watch the game for free.
—Rudie Obias, HollywoodReporter, 10 Jan. 2026
In the months before trials, Lehman had been living in an odd kind of limbo typical for elite athletes in transition, in any sport.
—Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
The All-America Selection (AAS) logo indicates winners that bested the rest in national independent trials.
—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Risinger highlighted Structure’s daily oral GLP-1, which will enter phase three trials later this year.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
The yacht will now undergo final preparations ahead of transport to the North Sea, where sea trials will take place before her delivery in spring.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 Jan. 2026
With trials underway in multiple countries, electric roads are now drawing global attention.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
This is a candid memoir of vulnerability and courage, humility and purpose, mistakes and learning—a singular tale of the trials, tribulations, and hope to be found in a life dedicated to the pursuit of truth.
—Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trials
Noun
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The medical ordeals are traumatic and disgusting, but fascinating and full of the quirks of modern life.—
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Both women survived, but are still reeling from ordeals that have drawn national attention — in part, because they were captured on video and shared on social media.—
Noun
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And to have those rehearsals and to get to talk about the script and the characters in-depth was really meaningful.—
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The friendship developed during rehearsals, and then a confrontation in the film between their characters culminated in a slap.—
Noun
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Numerous studies have shown that people who exercise regularly tend to perform better on attention, memory and executive functioning tests.—
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Those efforts led to Caterpillar’s first autonomous truck tests.—
Noun
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The meeting comes as Tokyo seeks to rein in a deepening diplomatic and trade rift with China while strengthening ties with allies to counter Beijing’s attempts to isolate Japan.—
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Those concerns echo as Adebayo suffers through a jarring offensive slump that has left him, statistically, among the league’s worst high-volume shooting centers on two-point and three-point attempts.—
Noun
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From plane seatback organizers to carry-on cup holders, these accessories can save you from boarding delays and other headaches—starting at $9.—
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The decades-old technology struggles to account for last-minute payroll changes and that can create all sorts of headaches for employees and departments alike.—
Noun
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They were doomed to perish in the fires of hell.—
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Park’s remarks came two days after the official one-year anniversary of the start of the fires.—
Noun
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The team highlighted that during experiments at NIF, lasers heated the capsules to extremely high temperatures, causing thermonuclear reactions that produced neutrons.—
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In 1942, as desert warfare raged in North Africa, a crew of physiologists was dispatched to the Sonoran Desert to conduct experiments on soldiers.—
Noun
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After an all-too-easy blowout over the New York Jets at the Meadowlands, the Bills won a single road game over their next four tries, including losses to the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins.—
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Golden State continued to create separation in the fourth quarter, holding a double-digit lead for much of the fourth and cruising to a win, their sixth in their last eight tries.—
Cite this Entry
“Trials.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trials. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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