suffer

verb

suf·​fer ˈsə-fər How to pronounce suffer (audio)
suffered; suffering ˈsə-f(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce suffer (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to submit to or be forced to endure
suffer martyrdom
b
: to feel keenly : labor under
suffer thirst
2
3
: to put up with especially as inevitable or unavoidable
4
: to allow especially by reason of indifference
the eagle suffers little birds to singWilliam Shakespeare

intransitive verb

1
: to endure death, pain, or distress
2
: to sustain loss or damage
3
: to be subject to disability or handicap
sufferable adjective
sufferableness noun
sufferably adverb
sufferer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for suffer

bear, suffer, endure, abide, tolerate, stand mean to put up with something trying or painful.

bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

Examples of suffer in a Sentence

He died instantly and did not suffer. He suffered a heart attack and died instantly. She suffered an injury during the game. We suffered a great deal during the war. I hate to see a child suffer. She suffered through another one of their long visits. The team suffered a defeat in the play-offs. Their relationship suffered because of her work.
Recent Examples on the Web Veteran tight end Tyler Higbee, who suffered a knee injury in the playoff loss to Detroit, will go on the physically-unable-to perform list, McVay said. Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024 Two of the three corrections officers were released from the hospital, while a third who suffered multiple gunshot wounds remained under medical care, Tewalt said Monday. Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 26 Mar. 2024 Nicki Minaj suffered a wardrobe malfunction during her Friday night (March 22) show at the Kia Center in Orlando. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 25 Mar. 2024 Monticello, Rochester and Ligonier suffered the greatest during a half-mile wide tornado that traveled 109 miles from near Lafayette to north of Fort Wayne. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Mar. 2024 The evacuees make up only a tiny fraction of the thousands of civilians, including many children, who have suffered grievous injuries over the course of Israel’s monthslong campaign against Hamas and its bombardment of Gaza. Nariman El-Mofty Alan Yuhas, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024 Anyone who's suffered even modest parental guilt over a child's actions might be able to appreciate the emotional knot Sylvia is in. Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2024 Advocates for patients who suffer side effects from a drug could ask judges to bar other patients from taking an otherwise safe and effective medication. Ann E. Marimow and Caroline Kitchener The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 25 Mar. 2024 Rebekah Byler, 23, was shot in the head and suffered multiple sharp force wounds to the neck in the Feb. 26 attack, according to court documents. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 25 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suffer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sufferen, suffren, borrowed from Anglo-French suffrir, going back to Vulgar Latin *sufferīre, re-formation of Latin sufferre "to submit to, endure," from suf-, assimilated form of sub- sub- + ferre "to carry, bear" — more at bear entry 2

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of suffer was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near suffer

Cite this Entry

“Suffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suffer. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

suffer

verb
suf·​fer ˈsəf-ər How to pronounce suffer (audio)
suffered; suffering -(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce suffer (audio)
1
: to feel or endure pain
2
: to experience something unpleasant
suffer a defeat
3
: to bear loss or damage
the business suffered during the storm
4
sufferable adjective
sufferableness noun
sufferably adverb
sufferer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on suffer

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