a severe or trying experience
"After surviving the harrowing ordeal of climbing the mountain in a blizzard, she finally collapsed at the summit."
a primitive method of determining a person's guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to dangerous or painful tests believed to be under divine control; escape was usually taken as a sign of innocence
"The ancient court sentenced the suspected thief to an ordeal by hot iron, where he would carry the red-hot metal for three steps and hope that his wounds healed cleanly if the gods deemed him innocent."
A painful or trying experience.
"After surviving a severe car accident and months of recovery, she finally had the chance to talk about her ordeal without fear of judgment."