He can't endure this vs Suffer
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
He can't endure this
Top 2,000 (common)
Suffer
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Most common: Suffer
| He can't endure this | Suffer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪnˈdjʊə//🇺🇸 //ɪnˈdʊr// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsʌfə(r)/","/ˈsʌfəz/","/ˈsʌfəd/","/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsʌfər/","/ˈsʌfərz/","/ˈsʌfərd/","/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | He can't stand this. | to feel pain or distress |
| Example | He can't endure this kind of pain any longer. | Many people suffer from anxiety and depression. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | endure pain, endure hardship, endure suffering, endure criticism, endure long wait | 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 | - | enjoy, thrive, prosper |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'insure' or 'ensure'., Used interchangeably with 'enjoy'., 'Endure' often requires a negative context. | "Suffer with" instead of "suffer from", Using 'suffer' without a specific condition, Mixing up 'suffer' with 'sufferer' as a verb |
| Usage notes | Use 'endure' in contexts of suffering or lasting through something difficult. Generally formal; not commonly used in casual speech. | Used when someone is experiencing pain or hardship. Avoid in casual contexts where lighter terms are appropriate. |
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Frequently asked questions: He can't endure this vs Suffer
What's the difference between He can't endure this and Suffer?
He can't endure this: He can't stand this. Suffer: to feel pain or distress
Which is more common: He can't endure this and Suffer?
Suffer is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
He can't endure this: He can't endure this kind of pain any longer. Suffer: Many people suffer from anxiety and depression.
Can I use He can't endure this and Suffer interchangeably?
Not always. He can't endure this 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.