ordeal
gb/ɔɹdˈil/ us/ɔɹdˈil/
B2
English
~ 8900
megpróbáltatás, kálvária, kínszenvedés, istenítélet, ordália
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] goes through an ordeal; the ordeal of [doing something]
After hours of questioning at the airport, the family finally emerged from the ordeal exhausted and shaken.
A család a repülőtéren töltött többórás kihallgatás után végre kikerült a megpróbáltatásból, kimerülten és megrendülten.
Her recovery from the accident was a long ordeal that involved multiple surgeries and months of therapy.
A baleset utáni felépülése hosszú megpróbáltatás volt, több műtéttel és hónapokig tartó terápiával.
Losing his job and home in the same week was an ordeal he never wants to relive.
The book describes the refugees’ ordeal as they crossed the desert with little food or water.
They thanked the nurse who had helped them through the ordeal of their child’s illness.
Learner examples
The long bus ride in the heat was an ordeal for the children.
A hosszú buszút a hőségben igazi megpróbáltatás volt a gyerekeknek.
She went through a terrible ordeal when her house burned down.
Szörnyű megpróbáltatáson ment keresztül, amikor leégett a háza.
The interview was an ordeal because the boss asked very hard questions.
His illness was an ordeal for the whole family.
When the ordeal was finally over, they all cried with relief.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "ordeal" can be used for any small problem, but it is usually reserved for very serious, stressful, or painful experiences. Another mistake is confusing it with "order" because they look similar; however, their meanings and pronunciation are different.
Meaning
very difficult or painful experience
Collocations
go through an ordeal
|a long ordeal
|a traumatic ordeal
|a harrowing ordeal
|survive the ordeal
|the ordeal of [doing something]
Synonyms
ordeal (base term; keep for internal symmetry, but normally not listed as its own synonym)
|
nightmare (informal; emphasizes how terrible and stressful the experience feels.)
|
trial (slightly more formal; can sound less emotional and more like a test of strength or character.)
|
torment (stronger; suggests intense, often ongoing suffering, especially emotional or mental.)
Antonyms
relief (Focuses on the feeling when a difficult experience ends or is avoided, the opposite of ongoing pain or stress.)
|
pleasure (Highlights a positive, enjoyable experience, the opposite of an unpleasant ordeal.)
|
comfort (Stresses physical or emotional ease, contrasting with the hardship and distress of an ordeal.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|difficulties
|health
|daily_life
Definition
A very bad and difficult experience that usually lasts for some time and causes stress, fear, or pain.
A very unpleasant, difficult, or painful experience, especially one that continues for a long time and is emotionally or physically stressful.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
2
istenítélet
C1
ordália
C2
Usage pattern:
trial by ordeal; ordeal by fire/water
In the Middle Ages, suspects sometimes faced trial by ordeal, such as holding a red‑hot iron to prove their innocence.
A középkorban a gyanúsítottaknak néha istenítéleten kellett átesniük, például vörösen izzó vasat kellett tartaniuk, hogy bizonyítsák ártatlanságukat.
The film opens with a brutal ordeal by fire that determines whether the accused woman is a witch.
A film egy kegyetlen tűz általi istenítélettel kezdődik, amely eldönti, hogy a megvádolt nő boszorkány-e.
Historians now view the ordeal as a form of ritual rather than a truly rational legal process.
Learner examples
In some old stories, a man must pass an ordeal by fire to show he is innocent.
Néhány régi történetben az embernek tűzpróbát kell kiállnia, hogy megmutassa, ártatlan.
Long ago, people used an ordeal in court instead of modern tests and evidence.
Régen az emberek néha istenítéletet alkalmaztak a bíróságon a modern vizsgálatok és bizonyítékok helyett.
The teacher explained that a trial by ordeal was a very dangerous and unfair way to judge someone.
Meaning
ancient test of guilt by suffering
Collocations
trial by ordeal
|ordeal by fire
|ordeal by water
|medieval ordeal
|judicial ordeal
Synonyms
trial by ordeal (A set phrase that names the specific historical practice of using an ordeal as a legal test.)
|
judicial ordeal (Technical or historical term emphasizing its use in formal legal judgment.)
Antonyms
due process (Modern legal principle based on fair procedures and evidence, the opposite of deciding guilt through a dangerous ritual.)
|
fair trial (Stresses rational, evidence-based legal judgment rather than divine signs from a painful test.)
Themes
history
|law
|religion
Definition
An old way of testing if someone was guilty, where the person had to do something dangerous or painful, and people believed God would show the truth by what happened.
In historical or religious contexts, a method of judging a person’s guilt or innocence by making them undergo a dangerous or painful test, with the outcome believed to show divine judgment.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ordeal
IPA
GB/ɔɹdˈil/
US/ɔɹdˈil/
Syllables & stress
or - deal (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (deal)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ordeal
- Plural: ordeals
Word family
Expressions
go through an ordeal
1/ɡˈoʊ θɹˈu ən ɔɹdˈil/
fixed phrase
experience a very hard situation
To have a very bad and difficult experience that causes a lot of stress or pain.
Examples
- She went through an ordeal after the accident, with weeks in the hospital and months of rehab.
- The whole community went through an ordeal during the long power outage in winter.
put someone through an ordeal
1/pˈʊt sˈʌmwˌʌn θɹˈu ən ɔɹdˈil/
fixed phrase
make someone suffer a hard experience
To make someone have a very bad and difficult experience.
Examples
- The long court case put the family through an ordeal they never expected.
- I’m sorry we put you through such an ordeal with all these last‑minute changes.
recover from the ordeal
1/ɹɪkˈʌvɚ fɹˈʌm ðə ɔɹdˈil/
fixed phrase
get better after a hard experience
To slowly feel normal or well again after a very bad and difficult experience.
Examples
- It took her months to recover from the ordeal of surgery and chemotherapy.
- The hikers were still recovering from the ordeal of being lost in the mountains for three days.
the ordeal of [doing something]
1/ðə ɔɹdˈil əv dˈuɪŋ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
very hard process of doing something
A very difficult, stressful, or painful process of doing something, often because it takes a lot of time or energy.
Examples
- I dread the ordeal of moving house every few years.
- They described the ordeal of filling out all the visa forms and waiting for months.
trial by ordeal
1/tɹˈaɪl bˈaɪ ɔɹdˈil/
fixed phrase
literary
historical legal test using an ordeal
An old way of judging if someone was guilty, where the person had to do something very dangerous or painful, and people believed the result showed God’s judgment.
Examples
- The documentary explains how trial by ordeal was used in medieval Europe.
- In some legends, heroes prove their honesty through a trial by ordeal ordered by the king.