B2noun1K

Suffering

UK /["/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/US /["/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/

Definition

physical or mental pain

In simple words: The experience of pain or distress.

Examples

  • 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.

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.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

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

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

Synonyms

  • pain
  • distress
  • anguish
  • misery
  • torment

Antonyms

  • comfort
  • relief
  • well-being

Common mistakes

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