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Definition of tribulation

tribulation

/ˌtrɪb.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/
trib · u · la · tion
Plural:tribulations
•
Adjective:tribulational
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tribulation Lexical Profile

tribulation Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A state of great trouble, suffering, or distress; an event, experience, or ordeal that causes severe hardship or sorrow.

Example

"The memoirs recount the many trials and tribulations the family endured during the prolonged economic depression."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

In everyday modern English, it is most frequently encountered in the plural form within the fixed binomial idiom 'trials and tribulations'.

• Rhymes for tribulation

• Nearby Words

tribesman
tribesperson
tribeswoman
tribulation
tribunal
tribune
tributary

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Old French 'tribulacion', from Church Latin 'tribulatio' (affliction, distress), derived from 'tribulare' (to press or oppress), originally referring to a 'tribulum', a heavy wooden sled studded with iron or flint used in ancient Rome for threshing grain.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tribulation. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tribulation
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