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
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
-
Maison Parisienne was granted permission for the exhibit from the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, or CMN, which oversees the July Column.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Jones explained that Aramayo would always seek permission from those who had uttered the tic.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
All of which mechanically inclined owners can address with time, patience, and some money.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
5 Sep. 2025
-
No matter what, the new anti-romantic comedies do require some patience.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Respecting it communicates that both voices matter and that decisions cannot move forward without mutual consent.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Other information about the winner is released only with the winner's consent.—
Steven Martinez,
jsonline.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Lisa Dennis, commissioner of the Department for Community Based Services, said during the meeting that an error payment occurs when a household receives more or less than the benefit amount, which was set at a $57 tolerance level starting in fiscal year 2025.—
Hannah Pinski,
The Courier-Journal,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Gilts tend to be highly sensitive to news events and risk tolerance due to the composition of their holders — particularly foreign hedge funds — as evidenced during the global bond sell-off in April this year, when the 30-year yield spiked up to 30 basis points.—
Jenni Reid,
CNBC,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The move irked Republicans in Congress who, in July, moved to ban restoring any Confederate names in this year's defense authorization bill.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Being undocumented in the United States, whether by crossing the border without authorization or overstaying a visa, is typically considered a civil violation rather than a criminal offense.—
Caroll Alvarado,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sufferance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sufferance. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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