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
Relevance
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
-
However, students are not allowed to use the devices during class, unless a teacher gives them permission for educational, health or emergency purposes.—
Rachel Wegner,
The Tennessean,
24 July 2025
-
Reprinted by permission of Vintage Books, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.—
Simon Boas
July 23,
Literary Hub,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
The key to a successful seafood boil lies in combining the perfect blend of ingredients, patience, and camaraderie.—
Amber Love Bond,
Southern Living,
30 July 2025
-
The third wave arrived nearly an hour after the first, highlighting the importance of patience and extended warnings.—
Will McGough,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
Spain’s victory was overshadowed by then-President of the Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales, who grabbed and kissed player Jenni Hermoso without her consent.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
28 July 2025
-
Approval of the traffic circle construction contract was on the City Council’s June 24 agenda’s consent calendar, which is a list of items usually approved as a routine matter without discussion.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 July 2025
Noun
-
Teach emotional tolerance, not just problem-solving.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
29 July 2025
-
Even with her high pain tolerance, changing the needle was excruciating.—
Jordan Greene,
People.com,
28 July 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,
30 July 2025
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The order by President Donald Trump to deny citizenship to babies born to immigrants without legal authorization to be in the U.S. is now before the courts.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sufferance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sufferance. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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