1
as in permission
the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something
was pointedly reminded that he was at the private beach on sufferance and could be kicked out at any time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in patience
the capacity to endure what is difficult or disagreeable without complaining
spending a whole day with my airheaded sister-in-law is beyond sufferance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sufferance
Every page is alive with animus, ardor, humor, sufferance, with venom for death and its posturing acolytes:
Anyone who has not killed is not a man: This sentence, which Hemingway fashioned, means nothing at all.
—
Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
Matchday was a sufferance, the opposite of life-affirming.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 10 July 2024
Through his cult of personality, Modi is fulfilling a century-old project, recasting India as a Hindu nation, in which minorities, particularly Muslims, live at the sufferance of the majority.
—Samanth Subramanian Vikas Adam Tanya Pérez Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
The Kirk Douglas, the smallest of the company’s three venues and ostensibly the most experimental, is the scrappy Culver City orphan, living at the sufferance of its older siblings at L.A.’s Music Center.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2023
Air India’s nationalization signaled that in independent India private enterprise would survive on the government’s sufferance.
—Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, 14 Oct. 2021
In the music of Beethoven, there is such an ethical, moral integrity … and power and sufferance.
—Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 10 Sep. 2019
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.
—Thomas Jefferson Et Al, Cincinnati.com, 4 July 2018
Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
Matchday was a sufferance, the opposite of life-affirming.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 10 July 2024
Through his cult of personality, Modi is fulfilling a century-old project, recasting India as a Hindu nation, in which minorities, particularly Muslims, live at the sufferance of the majority.
—Samanth Subramanian Vikas Adam Tanya Pérez Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
The Kirk Douglas, the smallest of the company’s three venues and ostensibly the most experimental, is the scrappy Culver City orphan, living at the sufferance of its older siblings at L.A.’s Music Center.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2023
Air India’s nationalization signaled that in independent India private enterprise would survive on the government’s sufferance.
—Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, 14 Oct. 2021
In the music of Beethoven, there is such an ethical, moral integrity … and power and sufferance.
—Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 10 Sep. 2019
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.
—Thomas Jefferson Et Al, Cincinnati.com, 4 July 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sufferance
Noun
-
Used with the permission of the publisher, Ig Publishing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Texas passed an artificial intelligence law in June that similarly outlaws the collection of biometric data without permission.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Catching a crescent this slim requires good timing, a good location, some patience and possibly a pair of binoculars.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
23 Aug. 2025
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One month after giving birth to Theo, Sharapova opened up to PEOPLE about returning to her normal workout routine — which for the former pro athlete required a bit of patience as well.—
Skyler Caruso,
People.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
When the project returned to the Community Planning Association, Khalil pulled the project from the consent agenda for a full review, citing new information the board should consider.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
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In June, Chinese state media urged stricter oversight of blind-box toys and trading cards sold to children under the age of eight, suggesting measures such as age verification at checkout and parental consent for online purchases.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Four easy strategies are assessing your own risk tolerance, investing early, investing regularly and practicing diversification.—
Catherine Brock,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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The Mets will give Alvarez a chance to play through the injury; once the inflammation subsides enough — likely by the end of next week — Alvarez can start swinging a bat again and testing his pain tolerance.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Any restaurant names or trademarks in the names of our recipes are included solely for reference and do not indicate any authorization or approval by their owners.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Aug. 2025
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About 800 National Guard members had already been activated in D.C. before additional state authorizations.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sufferance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sufferance. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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