tribulation

UK: /ˌtrɪbjʊˈleɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌtrɪbjəˈleɪʃən/ ,(trib′yə lā′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

trib•u•la•tion /ˌtrɪbyəˈleɪʃən/   n. 

1. severe trial or suffering:
   [uncountable] difficulty and tribulation in his life.
2. an instance of this:
   [countable] trials and tribulations.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

trib•u•la•tion  (trib′yə lā′shən), n. 

1. grievous trouble;
   severe trial or suffering.
2. an instance of this;
   an affliction, trouble, etc.

• 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, nominal suffix of instrument) + -iōn- -ion
• Middle English 1175–1225

Synonyms

• 1. affliction, hardship, distress, adversity.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tribulation / ˌtrɪbjʊˈleɪʃən/ noun

1. a cause of distress
2. a state of suffering or distress

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French, from Church Latin trībulātiō, from Latin trībulāre to afflict, from trībulum a threshing board, from terere to rub