trials

noun

plural of trial
1
as in ordeals
a test of faith, patience, or strength living with her insufferable relatives was a real trial

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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

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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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 trials With Magic Lessons, released in 2020, Hoffman told the tale of Maria Owens, who began the ancestral line of family witches after surviving persecution at the Salem witch trials. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026 No cameras were allowed in the courtroom, as is typical in Maltese criminal trials. — Kevin Schembri Orland, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 The Jebel Ali prototype has handled nearly 500,000 TEUs in trials, and DP World is spending £170 million ($225 million) on the first full-scale version at its London Gateway port. — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Yust is seeking to have his convictions and sentences vacated, and the case remanded for a new trial or new sentencing, arguing that his trial attorneys made serious errors, including failing to seek separate trials for the two killings. — Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026 The other initial focus for Thyme Companies will be around improving access and navigation within the clinical trial space, where Shah said enrollment challenges are limiting patient access to beneficial trials and slowing drug development. — Ian Thomas, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 The holds came as three patients in Novartis trials of the CAR-T rap-cel died from a dangerous immune system reaction, Endpoints adds. — Andrew Joseph, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026 Nanollose aims to have their pilot facility deliver the production data and material samples needed for customer trials and conversations around future licensing or partnership deals. — Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 Noah Wyle and fellow cast members of The Pitt took time out Sunday from depicting the trials of working in a Pittsburgh trauma center for the highs of cruising space in the 23rd century. — Lynette Rice, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trials
  1. ordeals
  2. rehearsals
  3. tests
  4. attempts
  5. headaches
  6. fires
  7. experiments
  8. tries
Noun
  • The two have remained united throughout the murder investigation and subsequent legal ordeals regarding Kohberger.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Through their fantastical ordeals, the X-Men illustrate qualities that inspire viewers, young and old.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of ordeals
Noun
  • In reality, Young came up with a totally different concept for the tour shortly before rehearsals began.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
  • North Korea has long condemned such joint exercises as rehearsals for invasion.
    — Reuters, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of rehearsals
Noun
  • If the upcoming tests continue to validate the design, the 24-round reusable pod could become one of JR3’s biggest advantages.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The sanctuary later said tests showed her red blood cells were still being affected by the venom, so veterinarians gave her another dose while working to keep her blood pressure, temperature and heart rate stable.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of tests
Noun
  • Utilizing quick, short passes, Hayes completed 14 of his first 16 attempts, including a 26-yard touchdown strike to sophomore tight end Ian Figi that gave Naperville Central a 14-0 lead.
    — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • McIntire is going batty — in a good way — over attempts to investigate the elusive western mastiff.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of attempts
Noun
  • Tibbetts says the fires have already created plenty of logistics headaches.
    — Anya Kamenetz, Curbed, 28 Aug. 2026
  • But nightmare headaches and blood pressure spikes from her teenage years came back at age 24.
    — Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of headaches
Noun
  • The system also has to predict where the next gap will be, because there is a slight delay while the jet fires and the user is constantly moving the brush.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Every few years, devastating fires in major cities left underwriters paying damages that would run into the billions today.
    — Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of fires
Noun
  • Meanwhile, in the team’s experiments, nearly 80 percent of the heat generated by the plasma was directed into cement production.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • During that time, Kim conducted a variety of scientific experiments that could advance technological development and aid space exploration down the road.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of experiments
Noun
  • After surviving a ferocious first half to trail only 13-12, the All Blacks' resolve hardened by new coach Dave Rennie and age-old ability to produce something from nothing turned a tense contest into a rout by five tries to South Africa's one.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • As Lucarelli closed in on 2,000 tries over the weekend, Oswalt ran the math in his head.
    — Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of tries

Browse Nearby Words

trial runs
trials
triarchies
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trials.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trials. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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