baptism of fire

NOUN

trying experience

Synonyms

WEAK

hazing initiation martyrdom ordeal rite of passage rude introduction test of courage trial by fire

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was a baptism of fire in a 5-0 defeat, but the player Everton fans would come to love was on show again a few days later.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Balfe: It was a bit of a baptism of fire.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

French ice dancers Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry are poised to win Olympic gold in Milan despite a baptism of fire in their debut season with accusations of control and manipulation flying.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

He was still relatively raw when he travelled to Russia to face Kovalev, a baptism of fire that became the defining early chapter of his career.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2025

To confess Christ in peace and in pleasant times, that is easy enough; but to do it through distress and death, to stand fast in the baptism of fire, that is another thing.

From Pine Needles by Warner, Susan