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

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How to use suffering in a sentence?

1. Carly Fiorina on Thursday:

   The facts are clear: Women have been hit hardest by this recession and lackluster economic recovery. That's just a fact. Women are suffering more than men and by the way, African-Americans are suffering as well.

2. Moustafa Mohamad:

   In doing what I did, I was not only trying to share the suffering of my compatriots, but also pay homage to the likes of Gandhi and Dr. King, who thought if suffering has to be endured for the social good, the activists should undergo it first.

3. Adam Abdoulaye:

   We are suffering. We are suffering and it is not over.

4. Thich Nhat Hanh:

   People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.

5. Joseph Addison:

   I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable.