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
But now researchers, including Dale Sandler at the National Institutes of Health, are finding that spill workers exposed to amounts of oil assumed safe have suffered from dizziness, nausea, lung problems and heart attacks.
—Travis Loller, Fortune Europe, 19 Apr. 2024
Starring Zac Efron, Sean Durkin’s latest feature is based on the Von Erich wrestling dynasty, who suffered a series of tragic deaths in the family.
—Jaden Thompson, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for suffer 
Travis Loller, Fortune Europe, 19 Apr. 2024
Starring Zac Efron, Sean Durkin’s latest feature is based on the Von Erich wrestling dynasty, who suffered a series of tragic deaths in the family.
—Jaden Thompson, Variety, 19 Apr. 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.
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Cite this Entry
“Suffer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suffer. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
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