TRIAL Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

trial 1 of 2

noun

ˈtrī(-ə)l

Definition of trial

as in ordeal

a test of faith, patience, or strength living with her insufferable relatives was a real trial

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Relevance

as in rehearsal

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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as in test

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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as in attempt

an effort to do or accomplish something will rest and make another trial at climbing the mountain

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as in headache

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

trial

2 of 2

adjective

as in experimental

made or done as an experiment a trial medical procedure that should be considered only after all other options have been exhausted

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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 trial

Noun

Her trial began on July 20, 2026 Lindsay Clancy is currently on trial for the alleged murder of her three young children, Cora, Dawson and Callan. — Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 Las Vegas Review-journal/TNS Three decades, two dozen witnesses and weeks of sensational and fiery testimony later, closing arguments are set to begin Monday in the trial for the only person ever charged with the murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur. — Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 Had Roden been found guilty of murder at trial, a jury or judge would have considered a prison term of five to 99 years, or life. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Aug. 2026 BioNTech’s neoantigen mRNA lipid nanoparticle vaccine phase 2 trial in the metastatic setting in melanoma failed to achieve its primary endpoints in melanoma. — Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for trial

Noun

Philipps has come out of the six-month ordeal feeling nothing but gratitude.

— Meg Walters, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
Within a week, Cano was in Wilson’s office, describing her ordeal.

— Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of ordeal

Noun

Each animal then underwent a battery of tests to study their pain sensitivity, anxiety-like symptoms, gut microbes, metabolites, and neuroinflammation.

— Mike McRae August 25, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026
The Global Times also reported that a separate library shelving event challenged robots to collect book returns and put them in the correct place as a test of visual recognition and reasoning.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of test

Adjective

But in 2018 Trump signed the Right to Try Act, which allows terminally ill patients to access certain experimental drugs and immunotherapy treatments that have not received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Hubble and Webb both have coronagraphs, but Roman’s experimental instrument is 100 to 1,000 times better than any built before, said Bertrand Mennesson, Roman deputy project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of experimental

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 Manchester City documentary offered an insightful preview of this summer, one in which Arsenal are the only top-six club not to have changed manager since the start of last season.

— Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
These leaks, which include several maps, video from a gas station and a car wash, come just days before the game is set to have an exclusive preview on Netflix.

— Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026