suffering
noun
suf·fer·ing ˈsə-f(ə-)riŋ 
1
: the state or experience of one that suffers
2
: pain
Example Sentences
ways to alleviate human suffering They hope these new drugs will help to bring an end to the suffering of arthritis patients. His lawsuit seeks damages for pain and suffering. the sufferings of the dying
Recent Examples on the Web What kind of society demands that an individual, by accident of birth, be expected to be both an inviolable symbol and also a living, suffering, mistake-making person? 
Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2022 Ivan and Nataliia, like the soldiers separated from their units, were alone, and being alone and helpless rendered their suffering meaningless. George Packer, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022 His stabs are imprecise, prolonging the stag’s suffering as well as the scene’s longevity, forcing the audience to watch and listen as the innocent creature writhes in agony. Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 4 Sep. 2022 Officers found one man inside the bar suffering from a gunshot wound. Taylor Hartz, Hartford Courant, 4 Sep. 2022 Having the medical aid in dying for Matt saved him so much more suffering. Ginger Fairchild, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022 Your personal encounter with suffering resulted in many transformative changes. San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Aug. 2022 The journals recall her childhood loneliness as Truitt silently bore her parents’ suffering. Donna Rifkind, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 The sheer size of China's economy and population means any major disruption to its power supply can cause massive loss and suffering. Nectar Gan, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022 See More
Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2022 Ivan and Nataliia, like the soldiers separated from their units, were alone, and being alone and helpless rendered their suffering meaningless. George Packer, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022 His stabs are imprecise, prolonging the stag’s suffering as well as the scene’s longevity, forcing the audience to watch and listen as the innocent creature writhes in agony. Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 4 Sep. 2022 Officers found one man inside the bar suffering from a gunshot wound. Taylor Hartz, Hartford Courant, 4 Sep. 2022 Having the medical aid in dying for Matt saved him so much more suffering. Ginger Fairchild, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022 Your personal encounter with suffering resulted in many transformative changes. San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Aug. 2022 The journals recall her childhood loneliness as Truitt silently bore her parents’ suffering. Donna Rifkind, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 The sheer size of China's economy and population means any major disruption to its power supply can cause massive loss and suffering. Nectar Gan, CNN, 26 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing suffering
Kids Definition
suffering
noun
suf·fer·ing
ˈsə-fə-riŋ,
ˈsə-friŋ
: pain experienced during an injury or loss
suffering 1 of 3
adjective
as in grieving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- grieving
- mourning
- upset
- unhappy
- crying
- sorrowing
- sad
- distressed
- melancholy
- miserable
- weeping
- wailing
- mournful
- widowed
- lamenting
- orphaned
- bemoaning
- bereaved
- bereft
suffering
2 of 3noun
as in sorrow
Synonyms & Similar Words
- sorrow
- agony
- distress
- anguish
- heartache
- heartbreak
- pain
- torment
- grief
- misery
- oppression
- unhappiness
- woe
- distress
- heartsickness
- despair
- dejection
- melancholy
- dolor
- wretchedness
- joylessness
- glumness
- affliction
- miserableness
- remorse
- blues
- gloominess
- despondence
- sorriness
- regret
- guilt
- gloom
- depression
- dreariness
- dumps
- forlornness
- sorrowfulness
- despondency
- blue devils
- desolateness
- contrition
- shame
- mopes
- woefulness
- melancholia
- downheartedness
- doldrums
- disconsolateness
- dolefulness
- desolation
- rue
- dispiritedness
- self-reproach
- self-pity
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- joy
- happiness
- ecstasy
- pleasure
- bliss
- delight
- rapture
- exultation
- euphoria
- elation
- cheerfulness
- blessedness
- cheer
- jubilation
- glee
- exhilaration
- exuberance
- joyfulness
- felicity
- joyousness
- mirth
- gladness
- cheeriness
- blissfulness
- enjoyment
- optimism
- humor
- gayety
- merrymaking
- merriment
- gleefulness
- gaiety
- gayness
- joviality
- jollity
- rapturousness
- elatedness
- hopefulness
- lightheartedness
- mirthfulness
- contentment
- content
- gladsomeness
- contentedness
- sunniness
suffering
3 of 3verb
1
as in experiencing
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it willingly suffered hardships so that their children would have a better life Synonyms & Similar Words
- experiencing
- undergoing
- enduring
- having
- feeling
- seeing
- knowing
- witnessing
- sustaining
- receiving
- passing
- tasting
- going through
- encountering
- accepting
- meeting
- digesting
- assimilating
2
as in aching
to feel deep sadness or mental pain the husband suffered deeply at the mere suggestion that he had been unfaithful Synonyms & Similar Words
- grieving
- aching
- mourning
- sighing
- agonizing
- sorrowing
- crying
- anguishing
- hurting
- bleeding
- sobbing
- weeping
- groaning
- tormenting
- smarting
- moaning
- eating one's heart out
- torturing
- tearing one's hair
- bewailing
- ruing
- lamenting
- languishing
- bemoaning
- howling
- blubbering
- yammering
- deploring
- wailing
- bawling
- racking
- regretting
- keening
- yowling
- pining (away)
- longing (for)
- taking on
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rejoicing
- laughing
- triumphing
- exulting
- glorying
- cheering
- delighting
- beaming
- ravishing
- sympathizing
- comforting
- crowing
- consoling
- reassuring
- assuring
- cheering
- joying
- soothing
- commiserating
- solacing
3
as in having
to give permission for or to approve of contends that the death penalty is something that no civilized society should suffer Synonyms & Similar Words
- having
- permitting
- allowing
- tolerating
- standing for
- admitting
- acquiescing
- enduring
- licensing
- green-lighting
- commissioning
- sanctioning
- authorizing
- conceding
- countenancing
- granting
- vouchsafing
- warranting
- condoning
- brooking
- according
- supporting
- okaying
- licencing
- agreeing (to)
- consenting (to)
- assenting (to)
- acceding (to)
- OK'ing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- prohibiting
- denying
- impeding
- hindering
- forbidding
- banning
- proscribing
- enjoining
- suppressing
- withholding
- rejecting
- refusing
- obstructing
- vetoing
- deploring
- disapproving
- revoking
- disliking
- censuring
- restraining
- frowning (at or on)
- curbing
- repressing
- checking
- keeping
- discountenancing
- grudging
- interdicting
- disallowing
- disfavoring
4
as in tolerating
to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference I will not suffer you to insult me so! Synonyms & Similar Words
- tolerating
- letting
- ignoring
- allowing
- permitting
- disregarding
- condoning
- forgiving
- indulging
- putting up with
- excusing
- pardoning
- shrugging off
- humoring
- brooking
- overlooking
- brushing (aside or off)
- winking (at)
- catering (to)
- giving in (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- preventing
- blocking
- barring
- prohibiting
- forbidding
- discouraging
- constraining
- interfering (with)
- inhibiting
- curbing
- impeding
- frustrating
- holding back
- deterring
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of suffering are agony, distress, and misery. While all these words mean "the state of being in great trouble," suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.
the suffering of famine victims
While in some cases nearly identical to suffering, agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.
in agony over the death of their child
While the synonyms distress and suffering are close in meaning, distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.
the hurricane put everyone in great distress
The synonyms misery and suffering are sometimes interchangeable, but misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.
the homeless live with misery every day