suffering

noun

suf·​fer·​ing ˈsə-f(ə-)riŋ 

1

: the state or experience of one that suffers

2

: pain

Choose the Right Synonym for suffering

distress, suffering, misery, agony mean the state of being in great trouble.

distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

some people live in misery every day

agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

Examples of suffering in a Sentence

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

The widespread suffering still being wrought by this disease is unacceptable. —Peter Sands, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024

Balancing your perspective can mitigate the suffering. —USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024

And having Trump reelected to the White House underscores how invisible women’s suffering and pain is in our country. —Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024

The arduous process of making the movie echoes the suffering that Grace experiences, including losing family, love, and friends in increasingly dark ways. —Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire, 28 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing suffering

• long-suffering

Kids Definition

suffering

noun

suf·​fer·​ing

1

: the state or experience of one that suffers

2

: a pain or injury endured