suffer

verb

suf·​fer ˈsə-fər How to pronounce suffer (audio)
suffered; suffering ˈsə-f(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce suffer (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to submit to or be forced to endure
suffer martyrdom
b
: to feel keenly : labor under
suffer thirst
2
3
: to put up with especially as inevitable or unavoidable
4
: to allow especially by reason of indifference
the eagle suffers little birds to singWilliam Shakespeare

intransitive verb

1
: to endure death, pain, or distress
2
: to sustain loss or damage
3
: to be subject to disability or handicap
sufferable adjective
sufferableness noun
sufferably adverb
sufferer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for suffer

bear, suffer, endure, abide, tolerate, stand mean to put up with something trying or painful.

bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

Examples of suffer in a Sentence

He died instantly and did not suffer. He suffered a heart attack and died instantly. She suffered an injury during the game. We suffered a great deal during the war. I hate to see a child suffer. She suffered through another one of their long visits. The team suffered a defeat in the play-offs. Their relationship suffered because of her work.
Recent Examples on the Web Three passengers of a small plane that lost engine power minutes after takeoff suffered only minor injuries after the pilot deployed a parachute system that eased the plane’s crash landing. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Alexander was shut down after suffering a left rib stress reaction that team is calling a deep bruise. Jon Becker, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 After suffering through a brutal bear market in 2022, investors who stuck to their guns and held onto stocks saw their payoff last year. Will Daniel, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024 Previous reporting:Da Tara Johnson's family seeks justice after recent Beech Grove grad fatally shot Police found Johnson in her apartment suffering gunshot wounds to her arm and torso after receiving frantic calls for help in the area. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Mar. 2024 Jake then suffered another blow when his younger sister Madison unexpectedly died in her sleep of natural causes in 2018. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2024 One such mission ended in tragedy in June last year when all five passengers aboard the Titan submersible were killed when the vessel suffered a catastrophic implosion en route to the wreckage. Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 Colt disappears after suffering an injury on a movie set and checks out of his fling with colleague Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt). Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024 Many protesters clutched signs opposing particular solar or offshore wind farms, with pictures of suffering whales. Michael E. Miller, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suffer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sufferen, suffren, borrowed from Anglo-French suffrir, going back to Vulgar Latin *sufferīre, re-formation of Latin sufferre "to submit to, endure," from suf-, assimilated form of sub- sub- + ferre "to carry, bear" — more at bear entry 2

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of suffer was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near suffer

Cite this Entry

“Suffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suffer. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

suffer

verb
suf·​fer ˈsəf-ər How to pronounce suffer (audio)
suffered; suffering -(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce suffer (audio)
1
: to feel or endure pain
2
: to experience something unpleasant
suffer a defeat
3
: to bear loss or damage
the business suffered during the storm
4
sufferable adjective
sufferableness noun
sufferably adverb
sufferer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on suffer

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