SUFFERING Synonyms: 263 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'suffering' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of suffering are agony , distress , and misery . While all these words mean "the state of being in great trouble," suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress. // the suffering of famine victims

Q: When can 'agony' be used instead of 'suffering'?

While in some cases nearly identical to suffering , agony suggests pain too intense to be borne. // in agony over the death of their child

Q: When might 'distress' be a better fit than 'suffering'?

While the synonyms distress and suffering are close in meaning, distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress. // the hurricane put everyone in great distress

Q: When could 'misery' be used to replace 'suffering'?

The synonyms misery and suffering are sometimes interchangeable, but misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss. // the homeless live with misery every day

suffering 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of suffering

as in mourning

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suffering

2 of 3

noun

as in distress

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

suffering

3 of 3

verb

present participle of suffer

as in experiencing

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

as in grieving

to feel deep sadness or mental pain the husband suffered deeply at the mere suggestion that he had been unfaithful

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in permitting

to give permission for or to approve of contends that the death penalty is something that no civilized society should suffer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in letting

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 & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun suffering differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of suffering are agony, distress, and misery. While all these words mean "the state of being in great trouble," suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

When can agony be used instead of suffering?

While in some cases nearly identical to suffering, agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

When might distress be a better fit than suffering?

While the synonyms distress and suffering are close in meaning, distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

When could misery be used to replace suffering?

The synonyms misery and suffering are sometimes interchangeable, but misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

the homeless live with misery every day

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 suffering

Noun

The suit asks for a jury trial and La Strada is seeking unspecified actual and compensatory damages as well as damages for emotional pain and suffering. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026 Other movies would have made a religious ideal of the suffering mother, attempted to proselytize its audiences, or wallowed in the melodramatic urge for a father figure. — Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 15 Sep. 2026

Verb

And since Bob hasn’t managed to elevate his station in the last 26 years, suffering the indignity of dealing with a much younger boss (Blake Anderson), his desperation is understandable. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026 Tierra Walker, who was 37, was 20 weeks pregnant and suffering from a potentially fatal complication marked by high blood pressure. — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for suffering

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffering

Adjective

An upset win would not have redefined Miami as anything but a team taking necessary steps up from the foot of a mountain.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026
First elected in 2020 in an upset race, Raman is running close to Bass in the Mayoral polls, and has seen an uptick as the campaign has kicked into post-summer high-gear.

— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of upset

Noun

But, in his view, the discussion of mental distress among kids ought to focus there.

— Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
The family’s attorney says Mayich struggled through a military-style practice with little rest or water, showing clear distress before collapsing.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of distress

Verb

Celebrity guest arrivals and studio portraits were particularly engaging, experiencing a significant lift from the collaboration tool on Instagram.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
For women experiencing brain fog, menopause may be part of the picture, but sleep problems, chronic stress, anxiety, depression and other health conditions can also affect memory and concentration.

— Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of experiencing

Verb

Father Joe himself certainly has the backstory for it, being a war veteran who married an Asian woman who died young and lost his grieving daughter to an overdose.

— Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2026
Some needed reliable support; others internalized attention as a loss of privacy while grieving.

— Dr. Victor Fornari, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of grieving

Verb

But after recording saves in his first two Marlins appearances, Fairbanks had three bad outings in a stretch of seven appearances in May, permitting three runs in an inning or less in each of those three games.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
Orioles right-hander Brandon Young allowed one run in five innings despite issuing five walks and permitting five hits.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of permitting

Verb

The most powerful systems of the future may therefore use both, letting electrons and photons do the jobs each is best suited for.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
Georgia McCann, the sole cast member who didn’t come from rich or famous parents, quickly emerged as Next Gen’s MVP, letting her guard down in a way that juxtaposed her cast’s more polished presentability.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of letting

Adjective

But when an oblong ball hits the turf, there’s often an equal chance the other team will recover, so Harbaugh was predictably unhappy with his team’s four fumbles against Dallas.

— Dan Duggan, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
There's also the daunting task of keeping young conservatives engaged at a time when many of them are unhappy with party leaders.

— Elena Moore, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of unhappy

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“Suffering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffering. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of suffering

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noun

verb

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