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tribulation

tribulation

34 9.1
A time of great trouble and suffering
  • noun
  • /ˌtrɪbjuˈleɪʃən/
: tribulación
  • His trials and tribulations were great, his life complex and controversial.
  • trials and tribulations
  • triumphs and tribulations
  • political tribulations

And the phone call went something like, OK, so the great tribulation started.

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Examples

  • Having lost so much to the depredations of time and tribulation, they have very little left to lose now.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Every trial and tribulation you go through prepares you for the life God has for you all the hard times.

  • And the phone call went something like, OK, so the great tribulation started.

  • Now, why am I going on about my tribulation?

  • But he cares about all the tribulation of your weak life.

  • "In my tribulation, "I called to the Lord, and cried to my God.

  • We all share a hope that we will survive this system, and go right through the Great Tribulation into paradise.

  • In the world, ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer;

    Fiction book (2002)
  • We still have trials and tribulations and we're going to get through them.

  • During the war, many families faced great tribulation as they lost their homes and loved ones.

Synonyms

difficult time
vstribulation
134 3.1

A period when someone faces problems or a lot of stress

is a deeper more painful situation causing great distress
trial
vstribulation
87 3.5

A difficult experience that tests your patience

is a more extreme period of suffering rather than a test of endurance
predicament
vstribulation
81 5.8

A difficult or embarrassing situation that is hard to escape

is focused more on severe suffering than on being trapped in a situation
adversity
vstribulation
71 4.9

A difficult time when you face many problems

is a more severe period involving great suffering or distress
hard time of it
vstribulation
2 6.1

A time when someone has many problems and finds life difficult

is a more intense state of great suffering rather than general hardship

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

A calm, quiet feeling in your mind without worry

304 1.0

A state of comfort and freedom from worry

How Severe

calamity
49 6.7
hardship
128 3.4
suffering
636 2.8
tribulation
34 9.1
trouble
∞ 1.0
difficulty
651 2.4
challenge
∞ 3.1

Surface Forms

tribulation singular
tribulations plural

Morphology

tribulation = tribulate (opaque) = tribul + ation

The root 'tribul-' is not a productive or familiar English morpheme for learners, and the meaning 'great suffering' cannot be reliably derived from surface parts.

Etymology

Tribulation comes from the Latin words tribulum, a farming tool used to crush grain, and tribulare meaning 'to press'. So a tribulation is like being 'crushed' or 'pressed' by trouble, which is why it means a time of great suffering or hard times.