suffer

[ suhf-er ]

See synonyms for: suffer suffered suffering suffers on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to undergo or feel pain or distress: The patient is still suffering.
to sustain injury, disadvantage, or loss: One's health suffers from overwork. The business suffers from lack of capital.

to undergo a penalty, as of death: The traitor was made to suffer on the gallows.
to endure pain, disability, death, etc., patiently or willingly.

verb (used with object)

to undergo, be subjected to, or endure (pain, distress, injury, loss, or anything unpleasant): to suffer the pangs of conscience.
to undergo or experience (any action, process, or condition): to suffer change.

to tolerate or allow: I do not suffer fools gladly.

Origin of suffer

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English suff(e)ren, from Latin sufferre, from suf- suf- + ferre “to bring, carry”; compare Old French sofrir, from Vulgar Latin sufferīre (unrecorded); see also bear¹, -phore

Other words for suffer

5	sustain
7	stomach, stand, abide

See synonyms for suffer on Thesaurus.com

Other words from suffer

suf·fer·a·ble, adjective
suf·fer·a·ble·ness, noun
suf·fer·a·bly, adverb
suf·fer·er, noun
non·suf·fer·a·ble, adjective
non·suf·fer·a·ble·ness, noun
non·suf·fer·a·bly, adverb
outsuffer, verb (used with object)
pre·suf·fer, verb
un·suf·fer·a·ble, adjective
un·suf·fer·a·ble·ness, noun
un·suf·fer·a·bly, adverb

Words Nearby suffer

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use suffer in a sentence

If we were to laugh, it would never be at the expense of anyone who was suffering.
How Hallmark is handling pandemic Valentine’s Day | Luke Winkie | February 12, 2021 | Vox
I’ve suffered from lower-back problems for years, and I’m so tight that I scream out loud when I try to touch my toes.
5 Pieces of Gear That Help Me Stay Active During Winter | Jakob Schiller | February 11, 2021 | Outside Online
Let’s say you’re suffering from deep depression, and you call a doctor’s office.
Can I Ask You a Ridiculously Personal Question? (Ep. 451) | Stephen J. Dubner | February 11, 2021 | Freakonomics
If you’re someone whose extremities suffer in the cold, think about investing in hand warmers.
Best hand warmers: Block the chill during your favorite winter activities | PopSci Commerce Team | February 10, 2021 | Popular-Science
We have been suffering a lot, so we need people to work with us, with our language translated for us.
African Communities Warn Language Issues Could Shut Them Out of Redistricting | Maya Srikrishnan | February 10, 2021 | Voice of San Diego

I suffer from no delusion that the justice system treats black and white equally.
Bill de Blasio’s Tea Party Problem | Will Cain | December 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
How does it happen that citizens of modest means suffer as public sector unions gain?
How Public Sector Unions Divide the Democrats | Daniel DiSalvo | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“One-third of South Asians and more than half of all Sub-Saharan Africans suffer from malnutrition or undernutrition,” he writes.
The History of the Chicken: How This Humble Bird Saved Humanity | William O’Connor | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The birds are debeaked, suffer ulcers, and terrible feet conditions.
The History of the Chicken: How This Humble Bird Saved Humanity | William O’Connor | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He was instructed several times to abuse the kids, he says, or he would suffer the abuse.
Beaten By His Church for Being Gay | Justin Jones | December 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
We suffer, nearly all of us, from a lack of quantitative grasp and from an imperfect grasp of form.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation | H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
My mother opposed her vow to his; not to suffer her child to leave her, till the time of her being professed.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane Porter
They will try to compel you to confession; and, though you are blameless, you will suffer the cruelest ordeal of transgression.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane Porter
Is there any earthly father who would allow his children to suffer as God allows Man to suffer?
God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford
In that case, Valerie, you shall suffer no constraint; you shall continue here as you have done.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for suffer

suffer

/ (ˈsʌfə) /

verb

to undergo or be subjected to (pain, punishment, etc)
(tr) to undergo or experience (anything): to suffer a change of management

(intr) to be set at a disadvantage: this author suffers in translation
to be prepared to endure (pain, death, etc): he suffers for the cause of freedom
(tr) archaic to permit (someone to do something): suffer the little children to come unto me
suffer from
- to be ill with, esp recurrently
- to be given to: he suffers from a tendency to exaggerate

Origin of suffer

C13: from Old French soffrir, from Latin sufferre, from sub- + ferre to bear

usage For suffer

It is better to avoid using the words suffer and sufferer in relation to chronic illness or disability. They may be considered demeaning and disempowering. Suitable alternative are have, experience, be diagnosed with

Derived forms of suffer

sufferer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with suffer

suffer

see not suffer fools gladly.

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