B2noun 1K

Suffering

🇬🇧 UK /["/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/

Meaning of Suffering

physical or mental pain

In simple words: The experience of pain or distress.

Suffering in a sentence

• Death finally brought an end to her suffering.
• This war has caused widespread human suffering.
• The taunts of her schoolmates caused her intense mental suffering.
• These pills should relieve his suffering for a couple of hours.
• The West has contributed to the immense amount of suffering in underdeveloped countries.
• It was a life full of pain and suffering.
• The hospice aims to ease the sufferings of the dying.

How to use Suffering

Used in both formal and informal contexts. It can describe physical or emotional pain. Be careful not to confuse it with 'suffer', which is the verb form.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of 'suffer + ring' — imagine a painful bell ringing.

Related words

Collocations with Suffering

• enormous
• great
• immense
• amount
• degree
• level
• cause (somebody)
• inflict
• increase
• pain and suffering
• enormous
• great
• immense
• amount
• degree
• level
• cause (somebody)
• inflict
• increase
• pain and suffering

Synonyms for Suffering

• pain
• distress
• anguish
• misery
• torment

Opposites of Suffering

• comfort
• relief
• well-being

Common mistakes with Suffering

• Using 'suffering' as a verb instead of 'suffer'.
• Confusing 'suffering' with 'sufferings' (the latter is usually used in a different context).

Frequently asked questions about Suffering

What does Suffering mean?

The experience of pain or distress.

What is the definition of Suffering?

physical or mental pain

How do you use Suffering in a sentence?

Death finally brought an end to her suffering.

Can you give another example of Suffering?

This war has caused widespread human suffering.

What are synonyms for Suffering?

Common alternatives include pain, distress, anguish, misery, torment.

What is the opposite of Suffering?

Opposite meanings include comfort, relief, well-being.

What words go with Suffering?

It commonly pairs with enormous, great, immense, amount, degree, level, cause (somebody), inflict, increase, pain and suffering, enormous, great, immense, amount, degree, level, cause (somebody), inflict, increase, pain and suffering.

What are common mistakes when using Suffering?

Using 'suffering' as a verb instead of 'suffer'. Confusing 'suffering' with 'sufferings' (the latter is usually used in a different context).

How do you pronounce Suffering?

US: /["/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/, UK: /["/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Suffering?

Used in both formal and informal contexts. It can describe physical or emotional pain. Be careful not to confuse it with 'suffer', which is the verb form.

What CEFR level is Suffering?

"Suffering" is at B2 level on the CEFR scale.