ordeal (n.)

• adversity
• affliction
• anguish
• assay
• calvary
• criterion
• cross
• crucible
• determination
• disaster
• distress
• essay
• grief
• hardship
• misery
• misfortune
• nightmare
• probation
• proof
• standard
• suffering
• test
• touchstone
• tragedy
• trial
• tribulation
• try
• verification
• visitation