suffering

noun

suf·​fer·​ing ˈsə-f(ə-)riŋ 

1

: the state or experience of one that suffers

2

: pain

Choose the Right Synonym for suffering

distress, suffering, misery, agony mean the state of being in great trouble.

distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

some people live in misery every day

agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

Examples of suffering in a Sentence

ways to alleviate human suffering

They hope these new drugs will help to bring an end to the suffering of arthritis patients.

His lawsuit seeks damages for pain and suffering.

the sufferings of the dying

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump thinks that everyone has a price; Khamenei holds that suffering is a price worth paying for his singular aim. —Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026

The kind that builds quietly across years of domestic violence calls, child abuse investigations, fatal accidents, overdoses, mass casualty events, and relentless exposure to human suffering. —Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026

Their suffering enabled advances that benefited others long after, yet their names and pain were buried for generations. —Akilah Weber Pierson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026

Patient perspectives are core components of how benefits, harms, and proportionality are assessed, particularly for interventions aimed at alleviating suffering and improving quality of life. —Amy Caruso Brown, STAT, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing suffering

• long-suffering

Rhymes for suffering

• buffering

Kids Definition

suffering

noun

suf·​fer·​ing

1

: the state or experience of one that suffers

2

: a pain or injury endured