Agonize vs Suffer

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Agonize

Top 3,000 (common)

Suffer

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 verb

Most common: Suffer

	Agonize	Suffer
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ˈæɡənaɪz// 🇺🇸 //ˈæɡənaɪz//	🇬🇧 /["/ˈsʌfə(r)/","/ˈsʌfəz/","/ˈsʌfəd/","/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈsʌfər/","/ˈsʌfərz/","/ˈsʌfərd/","/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	To suffer a lot of pain or worry.	to feel pain or distress
Example	She began to agonize over the decision to move to another city.	Many people suffer from anxiety and depression.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 3,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	-	B1
Part of speech		verb
Collocations	agonize over a decision, agonize about a problem, agonize over loss, agonize in pain, agonize for hours	a lot, badly, enormously, be likely to, tend to, continue to, for, from, under, suffer in silence, a lot, badly, enormously, be likely to, tend to, continue to, for, from, under, suffer in silence
Antonyms	relax, ease, calm	enjoy, thrive, prosper
Common mistakes	Confused with 'agonizing', which is the adjective form., Using 'agonize' in past tense incorrectly as 'agonized' in all contexts, forgetting to attach an object., Mixing up 'agonize' with similar words like 'worry' without understanding the intensity difference.	"Suffer with" instead of "suffer from", Using 'suffer' without a specific condition, Mixing up 'suffer' with 'sufferer' as a verb
Usage notes	Use 'agonize' when discussing intense emotional or physical struggle. It's appropriate in both casual and serious contexts, but avoid it for lighthearted situations.	Used when someone is experiencing pain or hardship. Avoid in casual contexts where lighter terms are appropriate.

See it in real clips

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

You know, it's best not to agonize.

Agonize

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

The Dead do not suffer the living to pass.

Let them suffer, then, as she suffers.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

The Dead do not suffer the living to pass.

Let them suffer, then, as she suffers.

Suffer

Frequently asked questions: Agonize vs Suffer

What's the difference between Agonize and Suffer?

Agonize: To suffer a lot of pain or worry. Suffer: to feel pain or distress

Which is more common: Agonize and Suffer?

Suffer is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Agonize: She began to agonize over the decision to move to another city. Suffer: Many people suffer from anxiety and depression.

Can I use Agonize and Suffer interchangeably?

Not always. Agonize and Suffer are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.