suffered

USAGE SUMMARY

"suffered" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where someone has gone through something difficult or unpleasant. For example: "The family suffered through the loss of their eldest son."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hugh Quarshie's long-suffering character has seen and suffered so much since he joined the soap in 2001 that he feels like the personification of the best of the NHS: wearily irritable, still just about hanging on despite 25 government-initiated reorganizations (I exaggerate, but not much), still good at his job and still trying to be selfless - against the odds.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

4. GNM accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by you as a result of entering the Competition or accepting the prize.

The Guardian

Nigeria has suffered from mediocre leadership for as long as I can remember.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even though I suffered a lot those first few years, I could take a lot of positives from it".

The Guardian - Sport

Clarkson has since said in his column in the Sunday Times that he had suffered a cancer scare two days before the incident.

The Guardian

If any player can soothe the Demon heartache that came when No2 pick Christian Petracca suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first months of his career, you'd think it's the young man who followed him by one place in the national draft.

The Guardian - Sport

School work certainly suffered after my father became ill.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

For his part, Cameron looked a little remote and would have suffered if viewers' attention had not been divided into seven parts.

The Guardian - Opinion

Durst's lawyers expressed concern mostly about ease of access to their client, although they also told the court they did not believe their client suffered from "an acute mental illness", according to the court filings.

The Guardian

He also acknowledges that the SDLP has suffered from being stereotyped as the Stormont psychiatrist, trying to encourage unionists and republicans alike to analyse their problems as each new nervous breakdown hits the peace process, but sometimes missing out on a share of the glory when the crisis passes.

The Guardian

This town, which has suffered over various recessions, had real economic difficulties, deindustrialisation, in the seventies and eighties, hit us hard as a town.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "suffered" when you want to emphasize the experience of enduring something difficult or painful, whether physically, emotionally, or psychologically.

Common error

Avoid using "suffered" when describing positive or neutral experiences. "Suffered" implies a negative outcome or hardship, so ensure the context aligns with this meaning.

Linguistic Context

Suffered functions as a verb, specifically the past tense and past participle of the verb "suffer". It describes the act of experiencing something negative, such as pain, distress, or loss. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "suffered" is a versatile verb form used to describe the experience of enduring something negative, whether physical, emotional, or psychological. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and wide applicability. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, "suffered" frequently appears in news and media contexts, conveying information about hardships and difficulties experienced by individuals, communities, or organizations. When writing, it's crucial to ensure that the context accurately reflects the intended meaning of enduring a negative experience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endured

Changes the verb to a synonym emphasizing persistence through hardship.

underwent

Replaces "suffered" with a word suggesting a process of experiencing something negative.

experienced

Substitutes with a more general term for going through a negative event.

sustained

Emphasizes bearing or upholding under difficult conditions.

bore the brunt of

Implies being the main recipient of something negative.

was afflicted by

Indicates being severely affected by something.

was subjected to

Highlights being forced to undergo something unpleasant.

struggled with

Focuses on the effort and difficulty involved in dealing with something.

contended with

Emphasizes active opposition or dealing with a challenge.

gone through

Uses a phrasal verb to describe the experience of something difficult.

FAQs

How to use "suffered" in a sentence?

Use "suffered" to describe the experience of enduring something painful, difficult, or unpleasant. For instance, "The town "suffered" greatly during the economic crisis."

What can I say instead of "suffered"?

You can use alternatives like "endured", "underwent", or "experienced" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "suffered from" or "suffered with"?

"Suffered from" is generally more appropriate when describing a condition or ailment. "Suffered with" can also be used, but it implies a more active struggle.

What's the difference between "suffered" and "struggled"?

"Suffered" implies the experience of pain or hardship, while "struggled" implies an ongoing effort to overcome a challenge. Someone might "suffer" the consequences of a bad decision, or "struggle" to make ends meet.