The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - trial n.

1) test, testing, experiment, proof, try-out, trying out, trial run, examination, check, checking, Colloq dry run: The trials of the new life-jackets are to be conducted soon. 2) hearing, enquiry or inquiry, examination, inquisition, litigation, judicial proceeding, lawsuit, contest: Throughout the trial, the accused protested his innocence. 3) try, attempt, endeavour, effort, venture, essay, Colloq go, shot, stab, fling, whirl, crack, whack: This was their first trial at climbing the north face. 4) trouble, affliction, tribulation, hardship, adversity, suffering, grief, woe, misery, distress, bad or hard luck, misfortune, hard times: Mona acknowledged the trial of having ten children and no husband. 5) nuisance, irritation, bother, bane, annoyance, pest, irritant, thorn in the flesh or side, US bur or burr under the saddle, Colloq plague, hassle, pain (in the neck) , headache, Taboo slang pain in the Brit arse or US ass: William, who is full of mischief, is a constant trial to his mother. --adj. 6) sample, experimental, exploratory, provisional, probationary, tentative, conditional, pilot: Will you consider a trial subscription to Verbatim, The Language Quarterly?