suffer
14 synonyms and 3 antonyms for suffer, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To experience pain, hardship, or distress.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use suffer
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman suffrir, from Latin sufferre, "to bear, endure," from sub- ("under") plus ferre ("to carry").
Full origin of suffer →Frequently asked questions
What does “suffer” mean?
The word “suffer” means to experience pain, hardship, or distress. In plain terms, to go through pain or something bad, or to get worse because of it.
How do you pronounce “suffer”?
“Suffer” is pronounced SUH-fuh (/ˈsʌfɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “suffer” in a sentence?
Here is “suffer” used in a sentence: “Many soldiers suffered terribly during the harsh winter.”
What is another word for “suffer”?
Words with a similar meaning to “suffer” include ache, agonize, anguish, hurt, pain and thole.
What is the opposite of “suffer”?
The opposite of “suffer” — its antonyms — are be pleased, luxuriate and relax.
What part of speech is “suffer”?
“Suffer” is a verb.
Where does the word “suffer” come from?
The word “suffer” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman suffrir, from Latin sufferre, "to bear, endure," from sub- ("under") plus ferre ("to carry").
Is “suffer” a common word?
“Suffer” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between suffer and endure?
Both involve going through something painful, but the emphasis differs. Suffer focuses on experiencing the pain, hardship, or distress itself. Endure adds the idea of withstanding it patiently over time without giving up. You can suffer briefly, but to endure suggests lasting strength in the face of prolonged difficulty.
What does 'suffer from' mean?
To 'suffer from' something means to be affected by an ongoing illness, condition, or problem, as in 'she suffers from migraines.' It describes something that regularly causes a person pain or difficulty. The phrase is especially common in medical contexts but also applies to broader troubles like stress or self-doubt.
Is 'suffer' always a negative word?
In modern usage it is almost always negative, meaning to experience pain or distress. There is one older sense, found in phrases like 'suffer the little children,' where it simply means to allow or permit. That meaning is now archaic and mainly survives in historic or biblical language.
What is the opposite of suffer?
There is no single perfect opposite, but words like 'thrive,' 'flourish,' and 'prosper' express the reverse idea of doing well rather than experiencing hardship. In the sense of enjoying something, 'delight in' or 'relish' also contrast with suffering, which centres on pain and distress.