tribulation

[ trib-yuh-ley-shuhn ]
See synonyms for tribulation on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. grievous trouble; severe trial or suffering.

  2. an instance of this; an affliction, trouble, etc.

Origin of tribulation

1
1175–1225; Middle English <Latin trībulātiōn- (stem of trībulātiō) distress, trouble, equivalent to trībulāt(us) (past participle of trībulāre to press, squeeze, derivative of trībulum threshing sledge, equivalent to trī-, variant stem of terere to rub, crush + -bulum noun suffix of instrument) + -iōn--ion

Other words for tribulation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use tribulation in a sentence

  • Thou art the help of Christians; lighten our tribulations, and help us with motherly intercession at the throne of thy divine Son.

  • We are told, you know, that celestial happiness must be gained by trials and tribulations here below.

  • Do not complain, but thank me for giving you the lesson without other tribulations that might have accompanied it.

  • After all our trials and tribulations, here we are at last, and no limbs lost!

    A Confederate Girl's Diary | Sarah Margan Dawson
  • As to the others, whenever their trials and tribulations abate for an instant, they relapse into a state of unabashed contentment.

    Humanly Speaking | Samuel McChord Crothers

British Dictionary definitions for tribulation

tribulation

/ (ˌtrɪbjʊˈleɪʃən) /


noun
  1. a cause of distress

  2. a state of suffering or distress

Origin of tribulation

1
C13: from Old French, from Church Latin trībulātiō, from Latin trībulāre to afflict, from trībulum a threshing board, from terere to rub

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012