suffering

1 of 2

noun

suf·​fer·​ing ˈsə-f(ə-)riŋ 

1

: the state or experience of one that suffers

2

: pain

suffering

2 of 2

present participle of suffer

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

Noun

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

Noun

Pelvic pain and trouble peeing are disruptive, but UTIs are dangerous if left untreated — delays in care are all too common and make prolonged suffering and dangerous complications more likely. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 14 Oct. 2026

Schleinzer made a deliberate choice not to depict the assaults themselves, arguing that images carry a responsibility, particularly in a culture saturated with graphic representations of suffering. — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

In a mixed verdict, the jury awarded $100,000 for past and future medical expenses and another $40,000 for past pain and suffering. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2026

And sometimes people in deep depression cannot tell the difference between mental pain and physical pain, because everything together is a great kind of suffering. — Terry Gross, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

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