Suffering vs Torment

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

Suffering

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 noun

Torment

Top 5,000 (fairly common) B1 noun

Most common: Suffering

	Suffering	Torment
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 //ˈtɔː.mɛnt// 🇺🇸 //ˈtɔːr.mɛnt//
Meaning	The experience of pain or distress.	extreme pain or suffering
Example	Death finally brought an end to her suffering.	The constant criticism was a source of great torment for her.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR level	B2	B1
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	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	mental torment, physical torment, torture and torment, live in torment, feel torment
Antonyms	comfort, relief, well-being	comfort, relief, pleasure
Common mistakes	Using 'suffering' as a verb instead of 'suffer'., Confusing 'suffering' with 'sufferings' (the latter is usually used in a different context).	Confusing 'torment' with 'torture' – 'torture' has a stronger, more physical connotation., Using 'torment' in sentences without the right context, especially in casual settings., Mispronouncing the word, leading to misunderstandings.
Usage notes	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.	Use 'torment' to describe severe emotional or physical suffering. It's neutral, suitable for both written and spoken contexts.

See it in real clips

especially you, Reiben, to ease her suffering.

Breaking Bad › S1 E6

and another fifteen for my partner's pain and suffering.

Better Call Saul › S1 E1

When she gets out of the car, you're suffering Saint Sebastian, right?

especially you, Reiben, to ease her suffering.

Breaking Bad › S1 E6

and another fifteen for my partner's pain and suffering.

Suffering

Frequently asked questions: Suffering vs Torment

What's the difference between Suffering and Torment?

Suffering: The experience of pain or distress. Torment: extreme pain or suffering

Which is more common: Suffering and Torment?

Suffering is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Suffering and Torment?

Suffering is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Suffering and Torment the same CEFR level?

Suffering: B2, Torment: B1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Suffering and Torment?

Suffering: noun, Torment: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Suffering: Death finally brought an end to her suffering. Torment: The constant criticism was a source of great torment for her.

Can I use Suffering and Torment interchangeably?

Not always. Suffering and Torment 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.