suffering 1 of 3

present participle of suffer
1
as in experiencing
to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it willingly suffered hardships so that their children would have a better life

Synonyms & Similar Words

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suffering

2 of 3

adjective

suffering

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun suffering differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of suffering are agony, distress, and misery. While all these words mean "the state of being in great trouble," suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

When can agony be used instead of suffering?

While in some cases nearly identical to suffering, agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

When might distress be a better fit than suffering?

While the synonyms distress and suffering are close in meaning, distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

When could misery be used to replace suffering?

The synonyms misery and suffering are sometimes interchangeable, but misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

the homeless live with misery every day

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of suffering
Adjective
This ruthless cartel is intent on cashing in, permeating our communities with their poison, with no regard to human suffering. Jon Haworth, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025 By reducing mental suffering, physiological suffering falls, too. Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
Reports of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro suffering from battery swelling have grown over the last few months. PC Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025 According to the autopsy, Brinker was pulled from the pool after he was observed suffering cardiac arrest and then being submerged for 30 seconds. Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suffering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffering
Verb
  • These areas are not experiencing the same correction that pandemic boomtowns across the South are now facing after years of overheating, and demand for the limited supply available remains strong, keeping prices up.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The debut of Nature of Things arrives at a time when the body and hair care categories are experiencing rapid growth and innovation.
    Emma Sandler, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s sudden passing in July left many grieving the beloved actor, but for his wife and young daughter, his death cut deeper.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • However, the organizations were giving the grieving mother time with her calf before disturbing her.
    Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Democratic lawmakers in California approved a sweeping slate of climate and environmental bills Saturday – a package that would double-down on climate commitments like cap-and-trade and high speed rail, while also permitting additional oil drilling in the state.
    Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • True support for working parents means more than permitting remote work.
    Liz Teran, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But in most other cases, Apple seems happy to take older icons and automatically modify them to match Tahoe's theming rather than letting old, non-updated icons stick out as all the other icons on your system change their colors and tints.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Yet with the win in his back pocket, Vrabel clearly felt comfortable letting his opinions fly on a victory Monday.
    Michael Hurley, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Those with suicide ideation might attempt suicide, but these attempts often represent a desire to escape distress as opposed to end-of-life issues.
    Eric Wood, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • In Pennsylvania, lawmakers have still not broken out of the impasse, spelling financial distress for schools and counties that rely particularly heavily on state funding.
    Isabella Volmert, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • At the same time, the home furnishings industry was undergoing a major shift with the rise and demise of various direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands.
    Amanda Lauren, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Washington Wizards wing Bilal Coulibaly will be sidelined to begin the season after undergoing surgery on his right thumb.
    Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The sole has Skechers’ GogaMat technology, which provides support and bounce that prevents feet from aching.
    Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Part of her had always felt an aching imposter syndrome and a difficulty controlling her emotions.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Devers, who is starting at first on Saturday, has fared well at first base despite having no experience at the position prior to this season.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Despite having a reputation for being at the cutting-edge of technological trends, cash is king in Japan.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Suffering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffering. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

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