as in distress
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
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
2
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
3
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
4
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
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
Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Charlie Kirk spoke out, not to END their suffering but IN FAVOR of it.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Jackman’s Robin Hood doesn’t steal from the rich to give to the poor in The Death of Robin Hood, instead seeking redemption for his past of crime and murder after suffering a major injury.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for suffering
Noun
While Zwerner’s pain and suffering have taken center stage in this trial, the upcoming criminal trial would be more likely to touch on what action Parker failed to take, given her duty to protect children, Brown said.
—Verb
Doctors had determined Bigham was suffering from severe mental illness at the time of her daughter’s death.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffering
Noun
-
The plaintiff seeks damages for privacy invasion, emotional distress, reputational harm and alleged placement on government watch lists.—
-
The initial wave of relief soon lifted, giving way to distress when Franco learned his home was uninhabitable.—
Verb
-
Weak shaking has been recorded and several residents reported experiencing the tremor in Ridgecrest and the surrounding area according to the USGS DYFI report.—
-
Additionally, people with IBS and IBD are more sensitive to changes in fiber in their diet and may already be experiencing constipation and/or diarrhea, which are common side effects of juice cleanses.—
Verb
-
Before the tournament, Damon's endurance coach, Patrick Peterson, was grieving the loss of his 14-year-old son, Armani Peterson, who was killed in the Stockton birthday party shooting that drew national attention.—
-
On Netflix April 24, 2026 | Action Thriller A grieving woman testing her limits in the Australian wilderness is suddenly ensnared in a deadly game with a ruthless predator.—
Verb
-
In theory, that would allow Glenn to lean on him for advice while also permitting him to focus his efforts elsewhere, like on offense and special teams.—
-
Even with sufficient investor support, the project would still have to go through an extensive regulatory and permitting process that would undoubtedly receive pushback from environmental groups.—
Verb
-
His version of vulnerability, letting the audience get to know him.—
-
Cuban argues if similar transparency and direct‑to‑consumer models were applied across health care—combined with rules like letting cash prices count toward insurance deductibles—the country could strip out layers of waste that burden both families and, ultimately, public budgets.—
Adjective
-
The Tigers, previously 0-9 all-time at Rupp Arena, took advantage of a struggling Kentucky Wildcats squad for a 73-68 upset win.—
-
The automaker spent much of the year undoing decisions made by the previous CEO, Carlos Tavares, who resigned at the end of 2024, as stakeholders in the company — from dealers to union rank and file — were upset with him and unhappy with his leadership.—
Noun
-
Death, fear, and sorrow unify the disparate practices.—
-
But grief will give you so much more than sorrow.—
Verb
-
To demonstrate the system’s capabilities, the research team, led by Huang Jiangtao of the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre, applied PADJ-X to conceptual configurations resembling the US Air Force’s B-21 stealth bomber, which is currently undergoing flight testing.—
-
The throne eventually made its way to Axl Rose, who used it on tour with Guns N’ Roses, and later Old Dominion frontman Matthew Ramsey, who used it in 2019 after undergoing surgery on his leg.—
Cite this Entry
“Suffering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffering. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share