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View synonyms for

suffer

[suhf-er]

verb (used without object)

  1. to undergo or feel pain or distress.

    The patient is still suffering.

  2. to sustain injury, disadvantage, or loss.

    One's health suffers from overwork. The business suffers from lack of capital.

  3. to undergo a penalty, as of death.

    The traitor was made to suffer on the gallows.

  4. to endure pain, disability, death, etc., patiently or willingly.



verb (used with object)

  1. to undergo, be subjected to, or endure (pain, distress, injury, loss, or anything unpleasant).

    to suffer the pangs of conscience.

    Synonyms:
  2. to undergo or experience (any action, process, or condition).

    to suffer change.

  3. to tolerate or allow.

    I do not suffer fools gladly.

    Synonyms: , ,

suffer

/ ˈʌə /

verb

  1. to undergo or be subjected to (pain, punishment, etc)

  2. (tr) to undergo or experience (anything)

    to suffer a change of management

  3. (intr) to be set at a disadvantage

    this author suffers in translation

  4. to be prepared to endure (pain, death, etc)

    he suffers for the cause of freedom

  5. archaic(tr) to permit (someone to do something)

    suffer the little children to come unto me

    1. to be ill with, esp recurrently

    2. to be given to

      he suffers from a tendency to exaggerate

“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
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Usage

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
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Other Word Forms

  • sufferable adjective
  • sufferableness noun
  • sufferably adverb
  • sufferer noun
  • nonsufferable adjective
  • nonsufferableness noun
  • nonsufferably adverb
  • outsuffer verb (used with object)
  • presuffer verb
  • unsufferable adjective
  • unsufferableness noun
  • unsufferably adverb
  • ˈܴڴڱ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of suffer1

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English suff(e)ren, from Latin sufferre, from suf- suf- ( def. ) + ferre “to bring, carry”; compare Old French sofrir, from Vulgar Latin ܴڴڱī (unrecorded); bear 1 ( def. ), -phore ( def. )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of suffer1

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

While Flanagan understands humanity’s penchant for complacency in the face of chaos, his script does little to elucidate the reasons people turn a blind eye to their fellow humans’ suffering, much less pose any solutions.

From

"For me, I can only look at them with contempt, because I see on the ground the suffering that their neglect has caused," she added.

From

A man has suffered serious injuries after an "incident" involving a vehicle at a multi-storey car park at London Luton Airport, police said.

From

USA lost 2-1 to Turkey and 4-0 to Switzerland, meaning they have suffered four straight defeats before their Gold Cup opener against Trinidad and Tobago in San Jose on Sunday.

From

“While others are suffering, it just doesn’t seem right.”

From

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suff.sufferable