suffer

verb

suf·​fer ˈsə-fər How to pronounce suffer (audio)
suffered; suffering ˈsə-f(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce suffer (audio)
Synonyms of suffernext

transitive verb

1
a
: to submit to or be forced to endure
suffer martyrdom
b
: to feel keenly : labor under
suffer thirst
2
: undergo, experience
3
: to put up with especially as inevitable or unavoidable
4
: to allow especially by reason of indifference
The eagle suffers little birds to sing …—William Shakespeare

intransitive verb

1
: to endure death, pain, or distress
2
: to sustain loss or damage
3
: to be subject to disability or handicap
sufferable
ˈsə-f(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce suffer (audio)
adjective
sufferableness noun
sufferably
ˈsə-f(ə-)rə-blē How to pronounce suffer (audio)
adverb
sufferer
ˈsə-fər-ər How to pronounce suffer (audio)
noun

Synonyms of suffer

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Choose the Right Synonym for suffer

bear, suffer, endure, abide, tolerate, stand mean to put up with something trying or painful.

bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

Examples of suffer in a Sentence

He died instantly and did not suffer. He suffered a heart attack and died instantly. She suffered an injury during the game. We suffered a great deal during the war. I hate to see a child suffer. She suffered through another one of their long visits. The team suffered a defeat in the play-offs. Their relationship suffered because of her work.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared to suffer a cramp in his left foot, threw up, and took a medical time-out to have his back massaged between the fourth and fifth sets before losing to Argentine player Mariano Navone. — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026 His defense attorney previously said the assaults were not politically motivated and that DeFoor suffers from mental health issues. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Tommy White Rated PG-13, 1 hour 37 minutes Hank, an American living in Australia, is now trying to be a gentle giant, one who’s celebrating his one-year anniversary of sobriety and who clearly suffers from lingering emotional trauma. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 Russia’s satellite industry has long suffered from chronic underfunding, corruption, production bottlenecks, and reliability problems. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for suffer

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sufferen, suffren, borrowed from Anglo-French suffrir, going back to Vulgar Latin *sufferīre, re-formation of Latin sufferre "to submit to, endure," from suf-, assimilated form of sub- sub- + ferre "to carry, bear" — more at bear entry 2

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of suffer was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing suffer

Rhymes for suffer

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Browse Nearby Words

suffect
suffer
sufferable
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Cite this Entry

“Suffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suffer. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

suffer

verb
suf·​fer ˈsəf-ər How to pronounce suffer (audio)
suffered; suffering -(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce suffer (audio)
1
: to feel or endure pain
2
: to experience something unpleasant
suffer a defeat
3
: to bear loss or damage
the business suffered during the storm
4
: permit entry 1 sense 1, allow
sufferable
ˈsəf-(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce suffer (audio)
adjective
sufferableness noun
sufferably
-blē How to pronounce suffer (audio)
adverb
sufferer
ˈsəf-ər-ər How to pronounce suffer (audio)
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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