SUFFERING Synonyms: 263 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'suffering' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of suffering are agony , distress , and misery . While all these words mean "the state of being in great trouble," suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress. // the suffering of famine victims

Q: When can 'agony' be used instead of 'suffering'?

While in some cases nearly identical to suffering , agony suggests pain too intense to be borne. // in agony over the death of their child

Q: When might 'distress' be a better fit than 'suffering'?

While the synonyms distress and suffering are close in meaning, distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress. // the hurricane put everyone in great distress

Q: When could 'misery' be used to replace 'suffering'?

The synonyms misery and suffering are sometimes interchangeable, but misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss. // the homeless live with misery every day

suffering 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of suffering

as in mourning

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suffering

2 of 3

noun

as in distress

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

suffering

3 of 3

verb

present participle of suffer

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

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

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

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun suffering differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of suffering are agony, distress, and misery. While all these words mean "the state of being in great trouble," suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

When can agony be used instead of suffering?

While in some cases nearly identical to suffering, agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

When might distress be a better fit than suffering?

While the synonyms distress and suffering are close in meaning, distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

When could misery be used to replace suffering?

The synonyms misery and suffering are sometimes interchangeable, but misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

the homeless live with misery every day

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

Noun

In the Hollways’ case, the family is also seeking damages for Layton’s future medical care and pain and suffering. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026 Their style of worship and theological teachings provided concrete tools, including practices such as prayer, fasting and sharing personal testimony, that relieved migrants’ suffering. — Johanna Bard Richlin, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Verb

Birds often strike glass flying as fast as 30 mph, suffering fatal brain trauma or devastating injuries. — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel is undergoing additional medical testing after suffering a vasovagal episode and collapsing on a team flight earlier this week. — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for suffering

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffering

Adjective

The guests seemed less upset by the death than by the news that their infusions would be halted.

— D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Instead, Brazil’s veteran leftist leader pulled off a stunning upset.

— Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of upset

Noun

The rise of self-harm influencers—people for whom demonstrating their distress online has become a source of income and validation—is a terrifying new development.

— Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026
CoreWeave, the leader of the pack, has seen spreads on its CDS widen past 11%, generally viewed as a distress level, as investors have to pay up for protection against default.

— Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of distress

Verb

In addition to vaccination, Public Health recommended that residents take preventive measures such as washing their hands frequently, staying home when sick and wearing masks when experiencing symptoms.

— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Participants step or jump off a platform more than 40 feet above the ground, experiencing a brief moment of free fall before the rope system catches them and slowly lowers them to the ground.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of experiencing

Verb

Many of his domestic critics have faulted him for prolonging the war in Gaza to appease his far-right allies, and for permitting ultra-Orthodox Jews to forgo military service to appease that sizable religious voter bloc.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Alongside the Capital Markets Union, the Savings and Investments Union and reforms like EuVECA, the Commission’s focus on grid connections, energy costs and permitting backlogs points in the right direction.

— Sophie Dembinski, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of permitting

Verb

By letting its subjects speak for themselves without imposing judgments, the film offers a poetic view of alternative ways of life.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 24 Oct. 2026
San Clemente often ran two-way star Jaxson Rex out of the Wildcat formation, letting the Brigham Young commit’s athleticism take center stage.

— Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of letting

Adjective

Dudus was apparently unhappy about a recent NBC News article that exposed Combs’ cushy life behind bars.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Tim Boyd San Juan Capistrano I’m sure there are Dodgers fans unhappy about losing to the Brewers.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of unhappy

Noun

But genuinely funny moments are rare, badly outnumbered by done-to-death musings regarding the mysteries of being alive and torturous melodramatic moments in which Klara dully absorbs the severity of Josie’s illness and Chrissy’s sorrow.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Crystal’s deep and profound sorrow at the loss of his director and friend Rob Reiner, not to mention Robin WIlliams, are very much present in the show.

— Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of sorrow

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suffering

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“Suffering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffering. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of suffering

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noun

verb

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