Synonyms for suffering
ˈsʌf ər ɪŋ, ˈsʌf rɪŋsuf·fer·ing

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. sufferingadjective

   Synonyms:
   pain, in

2. sufferingadjective

   Experiencing pain.

   Synonyms:
   in, pain

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 2 votes

1. suffering

   Pain is the most general term of this group, including all the others; pain is a disturbing sensation from which nature revolts, resulting from some injurious external interference (as from a wound, a bruise, a harsh word, etc.), or from some lack of what one needs, craves, or cherishes (as, the pain of hunger or bereavement), or from some abnormal action of bodily or mental functions (as, the pains of disease, envy, or discontent). Suffering is one of the severer forms of pain. The prick of a needle causes pain, but we should scarcely speak of it as suffering. Distress is too strong a word for little hurts, too feeble for the intensest suffering, but commonly applied to some continuous or prolonged trouble or need; as, the distress of a shipwrecked crew, or of a destitute family. Ache is lingering pain, more or less severe; pang, a pain short, sharp, intense, and perhaps repeated. We speak of the pangs of hunger or of remorse. Throe is a violent and thrilling pain. Paroxysm applies to an alternately recurring and receding pain, which comes as it were in waves; the paroxysm is the rising of the wave. Torment and torture are intense and terrible sufferings. Agony and anguish express the utmost pain or suffering of body or mind. Agony of body is that with which the system struggles; anguish that by which it is crushed.

   Synonyms:
   ache, agony, anguish, distress, pain, pang, paroxysm, throe, torment, torture, twinge, wo(e)

   Antonyms:
   comfort, delight, ease, enjoyment, peace, rapture, relief, solace

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. agony, suffering, excruciationnoun

   a state of acute pain

   Synonyms:
   hurt, distress, woe, excruciation, torture, crucifixion, agony, torment

   Antonyms:
   happy, untroubled

2. suffering, woenoun

   misery resulting from affliction

   Synonyms:
   agony, woe, distress, hurt, woefulness, excruciation

   Antonyms:
   happy, untroubled

3. distress, hurt, sufferingnoun

   psychological suffering

   "the death of his wife caused him great distress"

   Synonyms:
   hurt, injury, distress, detriment, harm, excruciation, damage, distraint, trauma, agony, scathe, woe

   Antonyms:
   untroubled, happy

4. suffering, hurtadjective

   feelings of mental or physical pain

   Synonyms:
   hurt, injury, distress, detriment, harm, excruciation, damage, agony, trauma, woe, scathe

   Antonyms:
   untroubled, happy

5. sufferingadjective

   troubled by pain or loss

   "suffering refugees"

   Synonyms:
   wretched, miserable

   Antonyms:
   untroubled, happy

6. miserable, suffering, wretchedadjective

   very unhappy; full of misery

   "he felt depressed and miserable"; "a message of hope for suffering humanity"; "wretched prisoners huddled in stinking cages"

   Synonyms:
   low-down, pitiable, pathetic, piteous, abject, vile, misfortunate, poor, pitiful, hapless, slimy, miserable, unworthy, deplorable, scurvy, scummy, worthless, ugly, woeful, measly, wretched, paltry, execrable, despicable, low

   Antonyms:
   untroubled, happy

Matched Categories

1. • Pain

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. sufferingnoun

   Synonyms:
   endurance, pain, distress, misery, sufferance, passion

2. sufferingnoun

   Synonyms:
   poverty, want

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. sufferingnoun

   Synonyms:
   distress, agony, misery, pain, discomfort, torture, sufferance

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "suffering":

   sufferings, pain, misery, plight, distress, hardship, agony, suffer, anguish, experiencing, grief, hardships

How to pronounce suffering?

How to say suffering in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use suffering in a sentence?

1. African American:

   Just like PTSD, racial trauma results in disability, temporary or long term, like lost days from work and lost productivity, increased medical expenses and more suffering in general, the more people have these problems, the larger the cost is going to be to society and those communities and their families.

2. Simone Biles:

   Growing up, my biological mom was suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and she was in and out of jail, i never had mom to run to. But I do remember always being hungry and afraid ... I remember them saying, 'Ok, you know how you called us grandma and grandpa? You can call us mom and dad now, if you want to. I was like, 'Yeah, I can do that.'.

3. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop:

   I can confirm that the Australian government is currently seeking to independently verify reports that 18-year-old Melbourne teenager Jake Bilardi has been killed in a suicide bombing attack in the Middle East, if these reports are confirmed, this is another tragic example of a young Australian being lured to a senseless and violent death by a brutal terrorist organization that is intent on imposing suffering and misery not only in Iraq and Syria but beyond.

4. Antonio Guterres:

   The people of Afghanistan need a lifeline. After decades of war, suffering and insecurity, they face perhaps their most perilous hour.

5. Nick Kristof:

   I've been on the ride of a lifetime with The Times. I've gotten to know presidents and tyrants, Nobel laureates and warlords, while visiting 160 countries. And precisely because I have a great job, outstanding editors and the best readers, I may be an idiot to leave, but Nick Kristof all know how much I love Oregon, and how much I've been seared by the suffering of old friends there.