SUFFER Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'suffer' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of suffer are abide , bear , endure , stand , and tolerate . While all these words mean "to put up with something trying or painful," suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing. // suffering many insults

Q: When is it sensible to use 'abide' instead of 'suffer'?

While in some cases nearly identical to suffer , abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest. // cannot abide their rudeness

Q: When can 'bear' be used instead of 'suffer'?

In some situations, the words bear and suffer are roughly equivalent. However, bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking. // forced to bear a tragic loss

Q: Where would 'endure' be a reasonable alternative to 'suffer'?

The words endure and suffer can be used in similar contexts, but endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties. // endured years of rejection

Q: When is 'stand' a more appropriate choice than 'suffer'?

The synonyms stand and suffer are sometimes interchangeable, but stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching. // unable to stand teasing

Q: When would 'tolerate' be a good substitute for 'suffer'?

The words tolerate and suffer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful. // refused to tolerate such treatment

suffer

verb

ˈsə-fər

Definition of suffer

as in to undergo

to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it willingly suffered hardships so that their children would have a better life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to grieve

to feel deep sadness or mental pain the husband suffered deeply at the mere suggestion that he had been unfaithful

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to permit

to give permission for or to approve of contends that the death penalty is something that no civilized society should suffer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to let

to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference I will not suffer you to insult me so!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb suffer differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of suffer are abide, bear, endure, stand, and tolerate. While all these words mean "to put up with something trying or painful," suffer often suggests acceptance or passivity rather than courage or patience in bearing.

suffering many insults

When is it sensible to use abide instead of suffer?

While in some cases nearly identical to suffer, abide suggests acceptance without resistance or protest.

cannot abide their rudeness

When can bear be used instead of suffer?

In some situations, the words bear and suffer are roughly equivalent. However, bear usually implies the power to sustain without flinching or breaking.

forced to bear a tragic loss

Where would endure be a reasonable alternative to suffer?

The words endure and suffer can be used in similar contexts, but endure implies continuing firm or resolute through trials and difficulties.

endured years of rejection

When is stand a more appropriate choice than suffer?

The synonyms stand and suffer are sometimes interchangeable, but stand emphasizes even more strongly the ability to bear without discomposure or flinching.

unable to stand teasing

When would tolerate be a good substitute for suffer?

The words tolerate and suffer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tolerate suggests overcoming or successfully controlling an impulse to resist, avoid, or resent something injurious or distasteful.

refused to tolerate such treatment

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of suffer Edgewater quarterback Joe Aicher, who suffered a knee injury in a preseason game against Armwood, is in uniform and back tonight, cleared for takeoff. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 However, the fuel cycle suffers from two major supply and engineering bottlenecks. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026 Iranian officials have said the country has suffered $270 billion in direct and indirect damage. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 Five other employees also suffered minor injuries, according to the report. — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for suffer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffer

Verb

That oil can then undergo further processing and hydrotreatment to produce SAF.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Thompson served as a guest judge that season while Cowell, who underwent a six-hour surgery that included the placement of a metal rod in his back, recovered.

— Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of undergo

Verb

Crump was flanked by three sets of grieving Black families who have all lost their sons in recent months.

— Ryan Young, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
The grieving husband said Soto de Guzman wanted to take their son to Santo Domingo on the day after she was killed and had already booked a flight, but the son was in the midst of a mental health crisis.

— Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of grieve

Verb

If physical gestures serve our relatives just fine, why did our own branch of the family tree gradually favor biological changes in our brains and anatomy that permitted our characteristic complexities in language and precision in speech?

— Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
There is no official balloon season, since flights can operate throughout the year whenever conditions permit.

— Scott Campbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of permit

Verb

When combined with a hot blanket of the humidity the city has endured throughout the summer, players could be forced to withdraw from their matches or push through, risking injury.

— Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
The biggest wild card is a secret Sunday world premiere with major names promised, underscoring the festival’s enduring appeal as a place where discoveries can happen.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of endure

Verb

This comprises five customizable ride modes for the 805 RX, plus reverse, allowing riders to adjust characteristics including power delivery, traction control and regenerative braking.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
Memory may be the hardware component that AI chips need to thrive, but cybersecurity is what allows an organization to adopt and deploy this technology securely.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of allow

Verb

So a manufacturer’s willingness to tolerate those costs is often determined by what the law requires.

— Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026
The 130-micrometer polystyrene films came through untouched because spreading the same voltage across ten times the distance drops the field below what the material can tolerate.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of tolerate

Browse Nearby Words

sues (for)

suffer

sufferable

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Suffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffer. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of suffer

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

apiary

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes