He hurt me vs Injured vs Suffered

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

He hurt me

Top 2,000 (common)

Injured

Top 2,000 (common)B1

Suffered

Top 2,000 (common)
 He hurt meInjuredSuffered
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //hɜːt miː//🇺🇸 //hɝt mi//🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪndʒəd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪndʒərd/"]/🇬🇧 //ˈsʌfəd//🇺🇸 //ˈsʌfərd//
MeaningHe caused me pain.hurt or harmed in some wayTo experience pain or distress.
ExampleHe hurt me during the argument.After the accident, several people were injured and needed medical attention.She suffered from a bad cold all week.
RegisterNeutralNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level-B1-
Collocationshurt emotionally, hurt someone badly, hurt feelings, hurt physically, hurt deeplybe, lie, get, badly, critically, gravelysuffered pain, suffered loss, suffered injuries, suffered greatly, suffered from
Antonyms-healed, uninjured, fitthrived, benefited, prospered
Common mistakesConfused with 'hurted' instead of 'hurt' as the past tense., Using 'hurt' without an object; it's generally transitive., Mistakenly adding 'to' after 'hurt' (e.g., 'hurt to me').'Injured' is often mistakenly used for emotional harm., Learners might confuse 'injured' with 'ill' which refers to sickness., Overusing 'injured' when 'hurt' could be simpler.Confused with 'suffer' as a verb vs. 'suffered' as a past tense., Using 'suffered' without specifying what someone suffered from., Overusing in contexts where lighter words like 'struggled' might fit better.
Usage notesCommonly used to describe physical or emotional pain. Can be informal in personal contexts but also appropriate in serious discussions.Use 'injured' in contexts where someone has been hurt in an accident or while playing sports. Avoid using it in overly formal writing.Used in situations discussing physical or emotional pain. Avoid in casual conversations; consider alternatives for softer contexts.

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He hurt me
Suffered

Frequently asked questions: He hurt me vs Injured vs Suffered

What's the difference between He hurt me, Injured, and Suffered?

He hurt me: He caused me pain. Injured: hurt or harmed in some way Suffered: To experience pain or distress.

Can you show an example of each?

He hurt me: He hurt me during the argument. Injured: After the accident, several people were injured and needed medical attention. Suffered: She suffered from a bad cold all week.

Can I use He hurt me, Injured, and Suffered interchangeably?

Not always. He hurt me, Injured, and Suffered 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.