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as in to undergo
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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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb suffer differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of suffer are abide, bear, endure, stand, and tolerate. While all these words mean "to put up with something trying or painful," suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

When is it sensible to use abide instead of suffer?

While in some cases nearly identical to suffer, abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

When can bear be used instead of suffer?

In some situations, the words bear and suffer are roughly equivalent. However, bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

Where would endure be a reasonable alternative to suffer?

The words endure and suffer can be used in similar contexts, but endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

When is stand a more appropriate choice than suffer?

The synonyms stand and suffer are sometimes interchangeable, but stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

When would tolerate be a good substitute for suffer?

The words tolerate and suffer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

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 suffer Jennifer Fink, 58, podcast host and motivational speaker, suffered from debilitating hormonal migraines for nearly 20 years because her insurance wouldn’t cover the HRT to treat them. Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 8 Oct. 2025 Byrne’s onscreen daughter (a heard but not seen Delaney Quinn) suffers from an unnamed gastrointestinal illness and requires a feeding tube. Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 8 Oct. 2025 The Nottingham Forest full-back suffered a hamstring injury in September’s 1-1 draw with South Africa and was expected to miss up to three months. Jay Harris, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 Nashville Police know she was strangled and suffered a blow to the head. Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suffer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffer
Verb
  • And the Homeland Security Department has mandated that immigrants be detained while undergoing their proceedings, with such detention as mandatory for those who entered without legal status.
    Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The Patriots also have several other Titans alumni on their roster and coaching staff, including edge rusher Harold Landry (who tallied one sack in the win) and backup QB Joshua Dobbs (who delivered a clutch third-down completion while Maye was undergoing a concussion test).
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The acclaimed actors’ characters are brought together by geography in the eight-episode Netflix series in which Rhys’ Nile — previously suspected of killing his wife — moves in near Danes’ Wiggs, a grieving author.
    Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The 27-year-old is still grieving the loss of Stone, who died on March 1 at the age of 63 in a car crash in Alabama.
    Essence, Essence, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • If time permits, lock your home upon departure and disconnect utilities and appliances.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The original iteration of Mojaveland ran from 2021 to 2023, but had to close due to accessibility and permitting issues.
    Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Simons didn’t let a lack of minutes early in his career ruin his spirit.
    Jay King, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Isan Elba Isan Elba let her hair down on the pink carpet.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Astronauts traveling to Mars will have to survive for months on a tiny spaceship with minimal food, endure microgravity where their bones and muscles waste away, and suffer from cosmic radiation bombardment.
    Big Think, Big Think, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The consequences for patients who endured famine often lingered long after the hunger ended.
    Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The family is mourning and focused also on driving this business.
    Footwear News, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Fallon is the second late-night host this year to publicly mourn the loss of a beloved pet.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In the end, Krantz added, adopting a more strategic approach ultimately benefits customers, allowing companies to use their time and money more effectively by learning from the successes of others.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a soft robotic skin that allows vine-like robots just a few millimeters wide to navigate tight and fragile environments.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Abbott was the first to announce the deployment of the Texas National Guard to Austin through a foreboding statement on X, warning that any disorder wouldn’t be tolerated.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Though enzymatic processes tolerate more contamination than many chemical ones, industrial plants will likely still require pretreatment (washing, grinding, delabeling) to avoid enzyme fouling.
    Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Suffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffer. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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