Cool MateAnd suffering vs Anguish vs Distress vs Misery vs Pain
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
And suffering
Top 1,000 (very common)
Anguish
FormalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Distress
Beyond 10,000 (less common)C1noun
Misery
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
Pain
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Most formal: Anguish
| And suffering | Anguish | Distress | Misery | Pain | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ænd ˈsʌf.ər.ɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ænd ˈsʌf.ər.ɪŋ// | 🇬🇧 //ˈæŋɡwɪʃ//🇺🇸 //ˈæŋɡwɪʃ// | 🇬🇧 //dɪsˈtrɛs//🇺🇸 //dɪsˈtrɛs// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈmɪzəri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmɪzəri/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/peɪn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/peɪn/"]/ |
| Meaning | Feeling pain or sadness. | Extreme sadness or pain. | Great worry or suffering. | A feeling of great unhappiness or suffering. | unpleasant feeling or discomfort in the body |
| Example | Many families are living in poverty and suffering from lack of resources. | She cried out in anguish after receiving the bad news. | The news caused her great distress. | The constant misery of living in poverty affected his outlook on life. | She felt a sharp pain in her knee after the fall. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | - | C1 | C1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | noun | ||
| Collocations | pain and suffering, emotional and suffering, physical and suffering, mental and suffering | anguish of childbirth, anguish over loss, anguish in silence, feel anguish, express anguish | emotional distress, signs of distress, in distress, cause distress, face distress | abject, great, real, be full of, endure, feel, misery of, make somebody’s life a misery, abject, great, real, be full of, endure, feel, misery of, make somebody’s life a misery | acute, agonizing, awful, spasm, stab, be in, be racked with, experience, begin, come, occur, control, management, relief, pain in, aches and pains, a cry of pain, a threshold for pain, great, immense, intense, cause (somebody), give somebody, inflict, the pain etched on somebody’s face |
| Antonyms | - | joy, happiness, comfort | comfort, relief, ease | happiness, joy, comfort | pleasure, comfort, well-being |
| Common mistakes | Using 'suffer' incorrectly as a noun., Confusing with 'suffering from' which indicates a specific cause., Not using it in contexts where empathy is required. | Confused with 'anguish' vs 'anguished' (the adjective form), Overused in casual contexts where 'pain' or 'sadness' might be more appropriate, Spelled incorrectly as 'anguise' | Confused with 'stress' - 'distress' is more intense and negative., Used incorrectly in the plural form - 'distress' is usually uncountable., Misinterpreted as physical pain - it primarily refers to emotional suffering. | Confused with 'miserable' as a verb instead of an adjective., Misusing it to describe minor inconveniences., Using it without context, making it unclear. | Confused with 'gain', often misspoke as 'pain' when meaning something positive., Using inappropriately in casual contexts, like joking about serious conditions., Mixing up with 'ache', which denotes a less intense sensation. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in both emotional and physical contexts. Suitable for conversations about hardship or challenges. Avoid casual tones. | Use 'anguish' in serious or emotional contexts. It's often found in literature and formal writing, less in casual conversation. | Use 'distress' to describe emotional pain or anxiety. Avoid informal contexts; 'distress' fits well in psychological or medical discussions. | Use this word when talking about deep sadness or distress. It is generally appropriate in serious contexts, but avoid using it casually. | Used in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it lightly; can be serious when discussing medical issues. |
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Frequently asked questions: And suffering vs Anguish vs Distress vs Misery vs Pain
What's the difference between And suffering, Anguish, Distress, Misery, and Pain?
And suffering: Feeling pain or sadness. Anguish: Extreme sadness or pain. Distress: Great worry or suffering. Misery: A feeling of great unhappiness or suffering. Pain: unpleasant feeling or discomfort in the body
Which is more formal: And suffering, Anguish, Distress, Misery, and Pain?
Anguish is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
And suffering: Many families are living in poverty and suffering from lack of resources. Anguish: She cried out in anguish after receiving the bad news. Distress: The news caused her great distress. Misery: The constant misery of living in poverty affected his outlook on life. Pain: She felt a sharp pain in her knee after the fall.
Can I use And suffering, Anguish, Distress, Misery, and Pain interchangeably?
Not always. And suffering, Anguish, Distress, Misery, and Pain 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.