Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

suffer

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of suffer

1 to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it
  • willingly suffered hardships so that their children would have a better life
Synonyms of suffer

endure, experience, feel, have, know, pass, see, sustain, taste, undergo, witness
Words Related to suffer

encounter, meet

accept, receive

assimilate, digest
Phrases Synonymous with suffer

go through
2 to feel deep sadness or mental pain
  • It made him suffer to see his elderly parents' struggle with age.
Synonyms of suffer

agonize, anguish, bleed, grieve, hurt, mourn, sorrow
Words Related to suffer

ache, long (for), pine (away), sigh, smart

rack, torment, torture

bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament, rue

bawl, blubber, cry, groan, howl, keen, moan, sob, take on, wail, weep, yammer, yowl

languish

regret
Phrases Synonymous with suffer

eat one's heart out, tear one's hair
Near Antonyms of suffer

beam, cheer, crow, delight, exult, glory, joy, laugh, ravish, rejoice, triumph

assure, cheer, comfort, commiserate, console, reassure, solace, soothe, sympathize
3 to give permission for or to approve of
  • Cell phone use is something our school does not suffer.
Synonyms of suffer

allow, green-light, have, permit
Words Related to suffer

authorize, commission, license (also licence)

accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), OK (or okay), warrant

accord, concede, grant, sanction, vouchsafe

admit, brook, condone, countenance, endure, support, tolerate
Phrases Synonymous with suffer

stand for
Near Antonyms of suffer

hinder, impede, obstruct

censure, deny, disallow, disapprove, interdict, refuse, reject, revoke, suppress, withhold

deplore, discountenance, disfavor, dislike, frown (at or on), grudge

check, curb, keep, repress, restrain
Antonyms of suffer

ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto
4 to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference
  • I will not suffer you to insult me so!
Synonyms of suffer

allow, let, permit, tolerate
Words Related to suffer

brush (aside or off), condone, disregard, ignore, overlook, shrug off, wink (at)

excuse, forgive, pardon

brook, cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge
Phrases Synonymous with suffer

put up with
Near Antonyms of suffer

forbid, prohibit

curb, deter, discourage, frustrate, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with)
Antonyms of suffer

bar, block, constrain, prevent

Synonym Discussion of 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

Learn More about suffer

  1. See words that rhyme with suffer Dictionary: Definition of suffer Spanish Central: Translation of suffer Nglish: Translation of suffer for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of suffer for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up suffer? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games