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 )

Example Sentences

His death was announced in a post on his Facebook page, which said he “passed away peacefully at home” in Los Angeles “after suffering a stroke over the weekend.”

From Los Angeles Times

Apologising to fans for their suffering, he acknowledged the need for the club to "take our share of the responsibility".

From BBC

Williams had rushed for 456 yards and scored seven touchdowns in the first six games before suffering an ankle injury that sidelined him for four games.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr MacDonald denies all the charges and has lodged a special defence to the murder charge claiming he was suffering from abnormality of mind.

From BBC

Traveling through the mountains of Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico, I heard accounts of migrants suffering shortages of food and climate-driven despair that had forced them to move.

From Salon

Related Words

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