suffering

1 of 2

noun

suf·​fer·​ing ˈsə-f(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce suffering (audio)
Synonyms of suffering
1
: the state or experience of one that suffers
2
: pain

suffering

2 of 2

present participle of suffer

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

Noun 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
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.
Noun
Reading the book feels refreshing — a clarifying antidote to a culture increasingly obsessed with idolizing and leveraging suffering. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 A great deal of flourishing and suffering happens between people, not just within them, because human beings are relational beings. — David H. Rosmarin, Time, 29 Aug. 2026 Experts have cautioned that Iran’s repressive regime is unlikely to be swayed by the suffering of ordinary citizens and is prepared to wait out economic hardship longer than Americans can endure high gas prices. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 Others feared the human cost of military escalation and warned that civilian suffering and regional instability could outweigh any political gains. — Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for suffering

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of suffering was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing suffering

Rhymes for suffering

See All Rhymes for suffering

Browse Nearby Words

suffer fools gladly
suffering
suffer in silence
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Suffering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suffering. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

suffering

noun
suf·​fer·​ing
1
: the state or experience of one that suffers
2
: a pain or injury endured

More from Merriam-Webster on suffering

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for suffering

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about suffering

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