1
as in permission
the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something
was pointedly reminded that he was at the private beach on sufferance and could be kicked out at any time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in patience
the capacity to endure what is difficult or disagreeable without complaining
spending a whole day with my airheaded sister-in-law is beyond sufferance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sufferance
Every page is alive with animus, ardor, humor, sufferance, with venom for death and its posturing acolytes:
Anyone who has not killed is not a man: This sentence, which Hemingway fashioned, means nothing at all.
—
Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
Matchday was a sufferance, the opposite of life-affirming.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 10 July 2024
Through his cult of personality, Modi is fulfilling a century-old project, recasting India as a Hindu nation, in which minorities, particularly Muslims, live at the sufferance of the majority.
—Samanth Subramanian Vikas Adam Tanya Pérez Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
The Kirk Douglas, the smallest of the company’s three venues and ostensibly the most experimental, is the scrappy Culver City orphan, living at the sufferance of its older siblings at L.A.’s Music Center.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2023
Air India’s nationalization signaled that in independent India private enterprise would survive on the government’s sufferance.
—Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, 14 Oct. 2021
In the music of Beethoven, there is such an ethical, moral integrity … and power and sufferance.
—Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 10 Sep. 2019
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.
—Thomas Jefferson Et Al, Cincinnati.com, 4 July 2018
Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
Matchday was a sufferance, the opposite of life-affirming.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 10 July 2024
Through his cult of personality, Modi is fulfilling a century-old project, recasting India as a Hindu nation, in which minorities, particularly Muslims, live at the sufferance of the majority.
—Samanth Subramanian Vikas Adam Tanya Pérez Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
The Kirk Douglas, the smallest of the company’s three venues and ostensibly the most experimental, is the scrappy Culver City orphan, living at the sufferance of its older siblings at L.A.’s Music Center.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2023
Air India’s nationalization signaled that in independent India private enterprise would survive on the government’s sufferance.
—Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, 14 Oct. 2021
In the music of Beethoven, there is such an ethical, moral integrity … and power and sufferance.
—Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 10 Sep. 2019
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.
—Thomas Jefferson Et Al, Cincinnati.com, 4 July 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sufferance
Noun
-
Resolution was granted permission to join the lawsuit in 2023.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Nicole Brownstein, the press secretary for the city’s public schools, said the agency has helped connect families with their permission to legal support and other resources.—
Cayla Bamberger,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Removing facial hair is a delicate process that sounds intimidating but is easy enough for anyone to do with a little patience.—
Jennifer Chan,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
That patience will serve Williams well, according to Ulreich, who witnessed those traits last season.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Volunteers must be 21 and consent to background check.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Other information about the winner is released only with the winner's consent.—
Steven Martinez,
jsonline.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Especially in the post-pandemic world, where risk tolerance is lower and businesses need more flexibility, this model just makes sense.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
5 Aug. 2025
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Customizing allocations The best practice is to customize asset allocations based on life stage, when investors will need to pull spending money from the portfolio and personal risk tolerance, Benz said.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Restrictions should include prohibiting sharing information about residents, removing federal agents from local police facilities, and rescinding or narrowing authorizations to enforce local law.—
Spencer Reynolds,
Time,
8 Aug. 2025
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What used to require a single prior authorization could now face multiple layers, which means more delays and higher denial rates.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sufferance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sufferance. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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