tribulation
Americannoun
-
grievous trouble; severe trial or suffering.
- Synonyms:
- adversity, distress, hardship, affliction
-
an instance of this; an affliction, trouble, etc.
noun
-
a cause of distress
-
a state of suffering or distress
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of tribulation
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
Explanation
Tribulation is suffering or trouble, usually resulting from oppression. The tribulations of a coal miner include a dangerous work environment, lung disease from black dust and a cramped, dark work space. When you encounter the word tribulation, it will usually be in the company of the word trial as in, “She suffered many trials and tribulations as an early feminist.” The two words, while not identical, emphasize each other as they essentially mean testing and suffering. Tribulation comes from the Latin verb tribulare "to oppress, afflict."
Vocabulary lists containing tribulation
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"I Have a Dream" by Martin Luther King Jr.
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "T"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They thought they needed to keep themselves spiritually pure to survive the coming tribulation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026
Such an unprecedented tribulation, including shutting down much of the economy for an extended time period, has impacted everything from truancy to building code compliance and enforcement.
From Salon ● Dec. 19, 2023
Howard sings about seeking, and claiming, the strength to rise above obstacles and tribulation: “I am not fearless but fear will stop me,” she vows.
From New York Times ● Apr. 28, 2023
Some believe the rapture will occur before the tribulation, some after, and some not at all.
From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2022
This was a tribulation; Isaac wanted sorely the camaraderie of his heretic congregation, their sweet witness; he missed the singing and tears, the prayers of love and fellow-feeling, the entreaties of sorrow assuaged.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
A four-part documentary offers a look behind the curtain of the infamous Nevada festival Burning Man, examining its trials and tribulations over five years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
"You have the trials and the tribulations, you win some, you lose some, you make progress, you sometimes have setbacks, but you have made it, and this day we've made it," added the CEO.
From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026
The late P-22 — a celebrity mountain lion that inhabited Griffith Park – personified the tribulations facing his kind.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2025
The character of Bridget Jones went straight to many women's hearts, who took comfort in her trials and tribulations.
From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2025
Years of marriage, love, loss, trials, and tribulations were written in every wrinkle, line, spot, and curve of their faces.
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
