suffer

verb

suf·​fer ˈsə-fər How to pronounce suffer (audio)
suffered; suffering ˈsə-f(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce suffer (audio)
Synonyms of suffernext

transitive verb

1
a
: to submit to or be forced to endure
suffer martyrdom
b
: to feel keenly : labor under
suffer thirst
2
: undergo, experience
3
: to put up with especially as inevitable or unavoidable
4
: to allow especially by reason of indifference
The eagle suffers little birds to sing …—William Shakespeare

intransitive verb

1
: to endure death, pain, or distress
2
: to sustain loss or damage
3
: to be subject to disability or handicap
sufferable
ˈsə-f(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce suffer (audio)
adjective
sufferableness noun
sufferably
ˈsə-f(ə-)rə-blē How to pronounce suffer (audio)
adverb
sufferer
ˈsə-fər-ər How to pronounce suffer (audio)
noun

Synonyms of suffer

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bear, suffer, endure, abide, tolerate, stand mean to put up with something trying or painful.

bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

Examples of suffer in a Sentence

He died instantly and did not suffer. He suffered a heart attack and died instantly. She suffered an injury during the game. We suffered a great deal during the war. I hate to see a child suffer. She suffered through another one of their long visits. The team suffered a defeat in the play-offs. Their relationship suffered because of her work.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The movie could stand to shave off 10 minutes from its midsection on the ocean, which often suffers from too many flat, green-screen backgrounds. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026 Officers arrived to find a person suffering from major injuries. — Jason Green, Mercury News, 9 July 2026 Seven of the victims suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds while the 21-year-old victim was shot in the chest and was critically injured, Tisch said. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 8 July 2026 So when Alex Vesia struggled against the Rockies in the eighth inning and Muncy suffered a throwing error, Colorado seemed in position to score with the bases loaded and one out. — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for suffer

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sufferen, suffren, borrowed from Anglo-French suffrir, going back to Vulgar Latin *sufferīre, re-formation of Latin sufferre "to submit to, endure," from suf-, assimilated form of sub- sub- + ferre "to carry, bear" — more at bear entry 2

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of suffer was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing suffer

Rhymes for suffer

See All Rhymes for suffer

Browse Nearby Words

suffect
suffer
sufferable
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Cite this Entry

“Suffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suffer. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

suffer

verb
suf·​fer ˈsəf-ər How to pronounce suffer (audio)
suffered; suffering -(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce suffer (audio)
1
: to feel or endure pain
2
: to experience something unpleasant
suffer a defeat
3
: to bear loss or damage
the business suffered during the storm
4
: permit entry 1 sense 1, allow
sufferable
ˈsəf-(ə-)rə-bəl How to pronounce suffer (audio)
adjective
sufferableness noun
sufferably
-blē How to pronounce suffer (audio)
adverb
sufferer
ˈsəf-ər-ər How to pronounce suffer (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on suffer

Nglish: Translation of suffer for Spanish Speakers

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