collective suffering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "collective suffering" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the shared pain or hardship experienced by a group of people, often in the context of social issues or historical events. Example: "The documentary highlighted the theme of collective suffering during the war, showcasing the struggles faced by entire communities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

He deeply empathizes with the collective suffering of humanity.

The New York Times

Horror, romance, fantasy, comedy, collective suffering – in other words, just another trip on the tube.

The Guardian - Film

It is difficult to deny that Israel's military action appears disproportionate and, combined with the Gaza blockade, is resulting in the collective suffering of the Palestinian people.

The Guardian - Opinion

The connection that art draws between individual and collective suffering is drawn by Plath's art in a way that not every reader has found convincing.

The New Yorker

On balance, the image likely to resonate most deeply in Beijing will be the "winter of our hardship," which captures the collective suffering that extends beyond American borders.

The New Yorker

No chance to divide in order to rule was out of bounds, Rove believed, and if transforming a sacred moment of collective suffering into a profane strategy for winning an election could be thought, it could be done.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Like other stories Lusk has heard, she wrote that nothing changed, even "after multiple meetings with my manager and HR" and that "it was simply brushed aside and swept under the carpet of collective Uber suffering".

TechCrunch

And now we're stuck, idling, at a collective crossroads, "suffering collective growing pains," as feminist icon Germaine Greer put it.

Huffington Post

It is important for people to grow their collective awareness suffering and have a compassion against it.

WikiHow

But critics say airlines have been suffering collective amnesia about the cause of delays since the court ruling.

The Guardian - Money

The resulting soundscapes are a dialogue between the present and a collective past of suffering and salvation, with echoes of Coltrane supplied by Allen's supple blowing.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing historical events or social issues, use "collective suffering" to acknowledge the shared pain and hardship experienced by affected communities. This demonstrates empathy and a nuanced understanding of the situation.

Common error

While "collective suffering" describes shared hardship, avoid using it to overshadow individual experiences within the group. Recognize the diversity of experiences and avoid creating the sense of a monolithic narrative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "collective suffering" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where 'collective' acts as an adjective modifying 'suffering'. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It serves to identify and categorize the shared experience of pain within a group.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

16%

Huffington Post

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "collective suffering" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that describes the shared experience of pain or hardship within a group. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage, primarily within news and media, and science, contexts. When using this term, ensure you are acknowledging the shared nature of the hardship without overshadowing individual experiences. Alternative phrases such as ""shared pain"" or ""communal hardship"" can be used for variety. Understanding the context and implications of "collective suffering" is crucial for effective and empathetic communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shared pain

Focuses on the aspect of pain being experienced by multiple individuals.

communal hardship

Highlights the difficulty and adversity faced by a community.

group suffering

A more direct and literal alternative, emphasizing the suffering of a group.

widespread misery

Emphasizes the pervasive nature of the suffering across a population.

mass trauma

Highlights the traumatic nature of the shared experience.

societal anguish

Implies deep emotional distress affecting a society.

community distress

Focuses on the suffering within a specific community.

popular agony

Highlights the intense suffering felt by the general population.

national grief

Refers specifically to a sense of grief shared by a nation, often after a tragedy.

corporate punishment

This phrase has an opposite meaning as it refers to punishment applied to a group.

FAQs

What does "collective suffering" mean?

The term "collective suffering" refers to the shared experience of pain, hardship, or distress by a group of people, often due to social, political, or environmental factors.

When is it appropriate to use the term "collective suffering"?

It's appropriate to use "collective suffering" when discussing events or situations where a group of people experiences similar hardships, such as during wars, natural disasters, or periods of social injustice.

What are some alternative phrases for "collective suffering"?

You can use alternatives like "shared pain", "communal hardship", or "group suffering" to convey a similar meaning.

How does "collective suffering" differ from individual suffering?

"Collective suffering" emphasizes the shared nature of the experience, while individual suffering focuses on the personal and unique pain of a single person. While both are valid, the former highlights the communal aspect of hardship.