trying ordeal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trying ordeal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a difficult or challenging experience that tests one's patience or endurance. Example: "The journey through the mountains was a trying ordeal, but we finally reached the summit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Without Mandi's help and the support of the whole Etsy community, Reed says he doesn't know how he would have made it through this trying ordeal.

Huffington Post

Or: "We keep fucking until we're ash, leaving a smell as of horn, I must have come because it's like the first time, I have to pass through this trying ordeal SO LARGE we would all be speaking and I awaken to your spiritual breasts, a perfect sphere of life everlasting, and after my so-called death we reach the O-C-E-A-N O-F C-O-M-E".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Followers of this ancient and inscrutable philosophy have found themselves at the centre of some of history's most trying ordeals, from the French Revolution to the American Civil War to the prison camps of Vietnam.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Last week, Ms. Gauthier, 67, appeared in court again to read short statements about her fiancé, William Goetzee, a decorated commander in the Coast Guard Reserve, whose life in New Orleans was intertwined with the most trying ordeals of the past decade, and ended under horrific circumstances in the Orleans Parish Prison.

The New York Times

He also spoke about how trying this ordeal has been for him and how high he believes the stakes are for him.

Huffington Post

After the Ordeal, Trying to Reclaim a Life LEI LIU and Yao Cheng, of course, never sanctioned that theory.

The New York Times

Stacey Loren, a 29-year-old secondary school teacher from Leeds, spent an entire day after her ordeal "trying to decide if I'd been raped or not".

Independent

The mere act of flipping through channels becomes an ordeal, trying to sort out the merely inane from the seriously disturbing.

The New York Times

Facing up to the terrifying flesh-eating Ogre is quite an ordeal; trying to rescue the princess as well seems impossible.

The Guardian - Books

"It's going to be a daily ordeal trying to see how I'm going to approach this team," Garnes said.

The New York Times - Sports

For Mrs. Jamison, 57, it has been a particularly grueling ordeal trying to balance her sympathy for the Watkins family against the frustrations of listening to prosecutors call her youngest child a coward and a coldblooded killer.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "trying ordeal" to effectively convey a sense of hardship and endurance in a situation. It's particularly useful when highlighting the emotional or mental strain involved.

Common error

Avoid using "trying ordeal" when a simpler description of difficulty suffices. Overuse can diminish the impact and make your writing sound melodramatic. Consider whether the situation truly warrants such a strong term.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trying ordeal" functions as an adjective modifying a noun, specifically describing the nature of the "ordeal". It adds a layer of meaning, emphasizing the difficulty and demanding nature of the experience. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "trying ordeal" is used to describe experiences marked by difficulty, hardship, and emotional strain. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct. It commonly appears in news and media contexts to convey the demanding nature of a situation. While semantically appropriate, consider synonyms like "difficult experience" or "challenging situation" to avoid overuse and maintain impact. The key is to employ it when you want to emphasize the endurance and resilience required to overcome a significant challenge.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harrowing experience

Emphasizes the distressing and painful aspects of the experience.

grueling trial

Similar in intensity, but "trial" suggests a more formal or legal context.

difficult experience

Replaces "ordeal" with a more general term, reducing the sense of severity.

testing experience

Focuses on the aspect of being tested or challenged by the event.

challenging situation

Emphasizes the difficulty of the circumstances, rather than the suffering endured.

difficult time

Similar to tough time but slightly more formal.

taxing situation

Highlights the draining or burdensome nature of the situation.

tough time

A more informal way of expressing a difficult period.

stressful situation

Focuses on the stress induced by the event.

arduous task

Shifts the focus to the laboriousness and effort required.

FAQs

How can I use "trying ordeal" in a sentence?

You can use "trying ordeal" to describe a difficult or challenging experience. For example, "Navigating the legal system after the accident was a "trying ordeal".".

What are some alternatives to "trying ordeal"?

Alternatives include "difficult experience", "challenging situation", or "grueling trial", depending on the context.

Is "trying ordeal" formal or informal?

"Trying ordeal" is generally considered neutral, suitable for news reporting and general writing. More formal alternatives could include "grueling trial", while informal options might be "tough time".

What makes something a "trying ordeal"?

A "trying ordeal" involves significant difficulty, emotional strain, and endurance. It's not just a simple problem but a situation that tests one's limits and resolve.