gauntlet

noun

variants also gantlet
Definition of gauntletnext
as in ordeal
a test of faith, patience, or strength before being adopted, school textbooks must often run the gauntlet of several local and state committees

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gauntlet But before Bane can finish him off, Batman stabs a Batarang into a little knob on Bane’s wrist gauntlet, the one that controls his intake of Venom. — Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026 Ole Miss has to get through the SEC gauntlet of LSU, Florida and Vanderbilt before hosting the Tigers. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 23 Aug. 2026 However consumer environments are the ultimate gauntlet for robotics with regards to unbounded task complexity, near-infinite environmental diversity, and a very high safety threshold. — Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 The nonconference slate is no gauntlet, but things really tighten up around mid-October. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gauntlet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gauntlet
  1. ordeal
  2. fire
  3. trial
Noun
  • There were long lines at gas pumps, turning each fill-up into an ordeal.
    — Dasha Litvinova, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • McCoy has transformed his ordeal into a testimonial on faith and the power of prayer.
    — Jan Thacker, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of ordeal
Noun
  • The Plaskett fire was 8,241 acres as of Sunday morning — up from about 6,000 acres Saturday morning — and only 1% contained.
    — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This includes campfires, warming fires and charcoal barbecues, the park said, directing visitors to its Fire Information webpage.
    — Eve Chen, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of fire
Noun
  • The trial brings to a head a decades-old case that for years has drawn the eyes of hip-hop fans and true crime experts alike.
    — Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Creeden filed a motion for the continuance on Thursday, saying the probation office hadn’t yet released its draft presentence investigation report and that the court hadn’t yet ruled on his motions for acquittal and for a new trial.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of trial

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Cite this Entry

“Gauntlet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gauntlet. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gauntlet

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gauntlet

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