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

Other nations achieve better results with fewer resources, yet Americans endure higher rates of suffering and preventable deaths. —Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024

Among the topics broached by visitors were true love, the afterlife, feelings of solitude, war and suffering in the world, as well as the existence of God. —Brian Cheng, NBC News, 5 Dec. 2024

Compared to the films, there’s a relative freshness to people’s memories about the suffering and abuse that defined the war. —Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 4 Dec. 2024

White’s protagonists are on journeys of discovery, on pilgrimages to purity, simplicity, or humility, understood in the living experience of human fragmentation and wholeness, suffering and redemption, pride and love. —Ben Woollard, JSTOR Daily, 4 Dec. 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