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
And Stewart, who is not, now works at their sufferance.
—
David Remnick, New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2025
Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 26 Sep. 2025
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
David Remnick, New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2025
Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled.
—Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 26 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sufferance
Noun
-
The counselor narrated part of her client's story with their permission.—
Ruchi Kumar,
NPR,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Every president since 1950 has launched military operations against foreign governments, without seeking Congress’ permission or a declaration of war.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Chapman acknowledges that early growth required patience, particularly in building trust with PEO carriers, but as credibility expanded, the company developed a national network capable of supporting industries ranging from construction and healthcare to professional services and manufacturing.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 When goals call your name, patience becomes your ally.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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However, simply being in the country without authorization — for example, after overstaying a visa — is generally a civil violation, according to immigration advocates.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Policymakers should build on this progress by strengthening transparency and accountability, increasing oversight of step therapy and prior authorizations, and ensuring clinical decisions remain in the exam room.—
Alex Mejia Garcia,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The specific numbers — $32,000 to $96,000 depending on timeline and risk tolerance — may feel distant.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Over several months, Glamour editors and testers between the ages of 30 and 60 evaluated body creams and treatments for texture, hydration, visible smoothing, and tolerance.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The controversy around Grok’s image generation has led to a trend in which users have requested the chatbot generate bikini images of other users under their posts without their consent.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
10 Mar. 2026
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Tuesday’s agenda places the grant fund on the consent agenda, which is typically used with items that have unanimous support.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Australia's government is being urged to provide asylum to the team, with some drawing comparisons to the country's previous granting of humanitarian visas to Afghanistan's women's cricket team.—
Swati Pandey,
Bloomberg,
8 Mar. 2026
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In 2021, after more than a dozen unsuccessful appeals and with the help of the Northern California Innocence Project, Sacramento Superior Court found Puckett factually innocent of all charges following the granting of a writ of habeas corpus by the California Supreme Court.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sufferance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sufferance. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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