full of suffering

USAGE SUMMARY

"full of suffering" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that experiences a great deal of pain, misery, or difficulty. For example: She had a life full of suffering, but still managed to find joy in small moments.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

The deaths are full of suffering.

The New York Times

And if we do nothing in a world full of suffering then we are responsible too.

The Guardian - Opinion

In a huge camp full of suffering and political resentments, of discontent and anxiety, nobody is looking for more trouble.

The New Yorker

Let us grant that being "well-meaning" is not necessarily the paramount virtue in a complicated world full of suffering people.

Princeton University

People who never knew the meaning of the word "theodicy" - the justification of God's providence in the face of a world full of suffering - have been quickly inducted.

The Guardian - Books

They ask how we can believe that a loving, all-powerful God created a world like this one, so full of suffering.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

The full extent of suffering inflicted on Yemen's population by the war has been laid bare by a series of independent assessments.

Independent

I interviewed 40 scientists, and followed more than a dozen individuals for a year to get their full breadth of suffering and healing.

HuffPost

On Wednesday a further 14 flights were cancelled as newspapers, headline-hungry in the summer news famine, were full of stories of suffering passengers and chaos at Heathrow.

The Economist

In a German aid hospital here in Dadaab, Dr. Daniel Muchiri showed four wards full of children suffering from severe malnutrition.

The New York Times

Another liberal, Nikki Moungo from St Louis county, Missouri, went a step further: "It's like being locked into a room full of those suffering from paranoid delusions," she said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "full of suffering", ensure the context clearly establishes the source or cause of the suffering to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify whether you are referring to emotional, physical, or existential suffering.

Common error

Avoid using "full of suffering" in contexts that demand subtlety or understatement. Overusing such a strong phrase can make your writing sound melodramatic or insincere. Consider using more nuanced expressions to convey hardship or adversity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "full of suffering" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe something characterized by intense pain, hardship, or adversity. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and can effectively convey a sense of pervasive misery, as seen in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

24%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "full of suffering" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe situations marked by intense hardship and pain. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its usage spans across diverse contexts, from news reporting to academic discourse, with a primary function of evoking empathy and emphasizing the severity of a situation. While powerful, it's important to avoid overuse and consider more nuanced expressions when appropriate. Related phrases like "fraught with hardship" or "laden with sorrow" offer alternative ways to convey similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. Ludwig's analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of this impactful phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

filled with anguish

Highlights the presence of extreme distress and torment.

riddled with pain

Implies a pervasive and deeply felt sense of suffering.

immersed in torment

Suggests being completely enveloped in intense suffering.

laden with sorrow

Highlights the weight of sadness and grief.

marked by adversity

Indicates that misfortune has left a clear and noticeable impact.

fraught with hardship

Emphasizes the presence of difficulties and challenges.

characterized by hardship

Describes a situation where difficulties are a defining feature.

beset by adversity

Focuses on the challenges and misfortunes encountered.

teeming with misery

Suggests an abundance of wretchedness and unhappiness.

replete with woe

Emphasizes a state of deep sorrow and lamentation.

FAQs

How can I use "full of suffering" in a sentence?

You can use "full of suffering" to describe a life, a period, or a situation marked by intense pain and hardship. For example, "Her childhood was "riddled with pain" due to the war."

What are some alternatives to "full of suffering"?

Some alternatives include "fraught with hardship", "laden with sorrow", or "beset by adversity", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "a life of suffering" or "a life full of suffering"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. "A life full of suffering" emphasizes the abundance of suffering, while "a life of suffering" focuses on suffering as a defining characteristic. The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

How does the phrase "full of suffering" relate to Buddhist philosophy?

In Buddhist philosophy, the concept of suffering (Dukkha) is central. The phrase "full of suffering" aligns with the first Noble Truth, which acknowledges that life inherently involves suffering. Understanding this truth is the first step towards liberation from suffering.