suffering

[ suhf-er-ing, suhf-ring ]

noun

1. the state of a person or thing that suffers.

   Synonyms: distress, pain, torture, torment, agony

2. Often sufferings. something suffered by a person or a group of people; pain:

   the sorrows and sufferings of our poorest citizens.

suffering

/ ˈsʌfrɪŋ; ˈsʌfərɪŋ /

noun

1. the pain, misery, or loss experienced by a person who suffers
2. the state or an instance of enduring pain, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈsufferingly, adverb

Other Words From

• suffer·ing·ly adverb
• un·suffer·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suffering¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; suffer + -ing ¹( def )

Related Words

• adversity
• anguish
• difficulty
• discomfort
• hardship
• misery
• misfortune
• ordeal
• torment
• torture