suffered; suffering
ˈsə-f(ə-)riŋ 
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 sing—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare1
: to endure death, pain, or distress
2
: to sustain loss or damage
3
: to be subject to disability or handicap
sufferableness
noun
Synonyms
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
As a result of the assault, the woman has suffered severe mental anguish, emotional distress and psychological trauma, the suit alleges.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 June 2024
Earlier this month, the Conservatives suffered historic losses in local elections, losing about half.
—Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 7 June 2024
That night, the suit claimed, the captain falsely told the authorities that Rodney Jr. suffered a heart attack.
—C.j. Chivers James Patrick Cronin Elena Hecht Anna Diamond Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 6 June 2024
As his loyal daughter and senior adviser, the once popular New York City socialite and fashion brand entrepreneur suffered a stunning fall from grace.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 6 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for suffer 
Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 June 2024
Earlier this month, the Conservatives suffered historic losses in local elections, losing about half.
—Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 7 June 2024
That night, the suit claimed, the captain falsely told the authorities that Rodney Jr. suffered a heart attack.
—C.j. Chivers James Patrick Cronin Elena Hecht Anna Diamond Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 6 June 2024
As his loyal daughter and senior adviser, the once popular New York City socialite and fashion brand entrepreneur suffered a stunning fall from grace.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 6 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for suffer
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.
Dictionary Entries Near suffer
Cite this Entry
“Suffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suffer. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
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