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

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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!

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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 In what proved to be a heavyweight battle in Conference USA, the FIU Panthers fell short in heartbreaking fashion, suffering a 27-24 loss to Jacksonville State. — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026 There were no immediate reports of injuries other than those suffered by the woman who was shot. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Mesquite Police said a third person, identified as a 20-year-old man, arrived separately at a nearby emergency room, also suffering from gunshot wounds. — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 The past and present compete for attention without consistently making each other more interesting, and the escape-room mechanics suffer from a peculiar combination of overexplanation and confusion. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for suffer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for suffer

Verb

Desperate to get that handsome life back, Hagen undergoes an experimental procedure at the hands of a scientist (Naomi Ackie) that initially works only to give way to a scary new reality with shape-shifting skin.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
Lung adenocarcinoma, the type of lung cancer that the pope underwent treatment for, is the most common type of lung cancer and a serious illness.

— Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of undergo

Verb

The Prince is also grieving the death of his private secretary, Nicholas Turnbull, who passed away in September.

— Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 10 Oct. 2026
Still grieving, Viard struggled to occupy the void left by Lagerfeld, whose larger-than-life personality loomed over the Paris fashion landscape and whose workload at Chanel spanned no fewer than 10 collections a year.

— Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of grieve

Verb

The continent’s political leaders must seize the moment to act, and not let this moment of Europtimism slide.

— Sophie Dembinski, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Doing so lets Bee’s AI take some actions on your behalf, like drafting emails or sending calendar invites based on your conversations.

— Victoria Song, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of let

Verb

The film explores the contradictions of a Bulgarian town pulled into Europe’s shifting geopolitical order, where arms production for Ukraine’s frontlines collides with enduring ties to Russia, personal convictions, and the everyday need to survive.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
The enduring lesson of Reykjavík is not simply about nuclear weapons or diplomacy.

— Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of endure

Verb

Rock band Pavlov’s Dog is mourning the loss of singer-songwriter and lead vocalist David Surkamp, who died Monday at age 74.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Dustin Hada, the head coach of Southern Nazarene’s football program, also mourned the loss of his player on social media.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of mourn

Verb

The platform’s most popular membership plan is the Ipsy Original plan, which for $15 a month allows users to receive five sample-size products every month.

— Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Street Fighter held its premiere in Los Angeles on Monday and Paramount also held a series of screenings this week, and allowed attendees to post brief social media reactions to the movie.

— Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of allow

Verb

Related Stories Lee says the film grew out of the small and large injustices people tolerate every day to avoid a fight.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Scientists have long marveled at how the human body tolerates extreme heat — and what that means for our health.

— Will Stone, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of tolerate

Browse Nearby Words

sues (for)

suffer

sufferable

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“Suffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suffer. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of suffer

verb

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