WordGarden.iotribulation
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /trˌɪbjʊlˈeɪʃən/
US
- /ˌtrɪbjəˈleɪʃən/
Meanings
Noun
great suffering, trouble, or hardship
a period of extreme suffering believed in some Christian teachings to come before the end times
Beyond the definition
This isn't just a bad day; it's a time of deep suffering or serious hardship. Think of ancient sailors trapped in fierce storms at sea. The word is often used in religious writing to describe tests of faith, but it can also describe any very hard experience in life. A family dealing with a long illness may go through such a time, and so may a country torn apart by war. It's more than ordinary trouble; it is the kind of hardship that tests a person's strength and spirit.
The word "tribulation" evokes images of intense suffering, hardship, and distress—but its roots are surprisingly practical. It comes from the Latin tribulatio, which stems from the tribulum, a heavy wooden threshing board used to separate grain from chaff. Imagine a farmer relentlessly dragging this weighted tool over wheat to extract the grain; the process was arduous and crushing. Over time, "tribulation" evolved to describe any life experience that "threshes" or tests a person severely.
Historically, tribulation is deeply connected to religious texts, particularly in Christianity, where it often refers to trials of faith and persecution. The Book of Revelation speaks extensively about the "Great Tribulation"—a period of immense suffering foretold to occur before the second coming of Christ.
However, tribulation isn't limited to spiritual contexts. It can describe any prolonged and intensely difficult experience. A family facing financial ruin might endure years of tribulation, just as a community rebuilding after a natural disaster experiences collective tribulation. Even a scientist tirelessly working on a cure for a deadly disease may face countless tribulations along the way.
While it always implies hardship, "tribulation" often suggests a sense of endurance and eventual overcoming. It's not just about what happens to you, but how you navigate through the suffering. So when someone speaks of tribulation, they are referring to a period of intense testing—a time that pushes you to your limits, demanding resilience, patience, and faith.
Examples
- 1
New Parents
New parents often laugh later about the tribulations of the first few months with a baby.
- 2
Personal Hardship
Losing the family business was only one of the many tribulations he faced that year.
- 3
Hard Times
In times of tribulation, she turns to her closest friends for support.
- 4
Startup Challenges
Starting a company comes with its own trials and tribulations.
- Phrasetrials and tribulations
many problems and difficulties over time
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- trials and tribulations
- great tribulation
- time of tribulation
Word family
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Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- tribulationnoun
Forms
- tribulationspluralnoun