suffering

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "suffering" is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used to refer to physical or emotional distress or pain. An example sentence would be: "We wanted to help those who were suffering from the effects of the natural disaster."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Margaret Hodge, a former Labour minister and chair of the Commons public accounts committee, also defended the policy, arguing consumers are suffering too much from high prices.

The Guardian - Money

Making helmets compulsory eliminated the dilemma: the players could protect their heads without suffering a competitive disadvantage.

The Economist

BBC1 was marginally down on the 4.1 million viewers who turned in five years ago, with ITV suffering a more precipitous drop from 1.3 million last time round.

The Guardian

Greece has been suffering an economic catastrophe since 2010.

The Guardian - Business

Only with dialogue and debate will it be possible to change the current law, which is retrograde and sexist, causing death and suffering to women and their families".

The Guardian

Rescuers were reportedly able to save 63 crew members, many of them suffering from hypothermia after being in the near-freezing water.

The Guardian

A spokesman said: "The home secretary is clear that the right place for a person suffering a mental health crisis is a bed, not a police cell, and the right people to look after them are medically trained professionals, not police officers".

The Guardian

It is having a damaging effect on the care of thousands of patients right across the NHS, with far too many now suffering the distress of having even the most urgent operations cancelled at the last minute.

The Guardian

Greece, and now all of Europe, are suffering because Europe is still being run by and for bankers who simply want their money back.

The Guardian - Opinion

Until the last few weeks the conventional wisdom in Washington, London and Arab capitals was that Isis had been forced on to the back foot, suffering from shortages of cash, weapons and problems of resupply, even if its morale was sustained by a slick propaganda machine that kept attracting recruits.

The Guardian

"If you're suffering from an eating disorder, and anorexia nervosa in particular, your rate of suicide is 32 times higher than someone who is not suffering," she said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "suffering", be specific about the cause and nature of the distress to provide clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid using passive voice excessively when describing "suffering". Instead of saying "Mistakes were suffered", opt for active voice: "People suffered because of mistakes". This makes the sentence more direct and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "suffering" is a verb in its present participle form (often used with 'is', 'was', 'are', 'were') or as a gerund. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes the state of experiencing pain or distress.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "suffering" is a versatile word frequently employed to depict states of pain, distress, or hardship. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, particularly in journalistic contexts. Related terms include "experiencing hardship" and "enduring pain", each bringing subtle nuances to the description of adversity. When employing "suffering", it's advisable to specify the origin and character of the distress to enrich comprehension. While overuse of the passive voice should be avoided for impact, as stated by Ludwig, the word itself remains a powerful and universally understood descriptor of adverse experiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enduring pain

This emphasizes the act of bearing physical or emotional pain.

undergoing distress

This phrase focuses on emotional or mental anguish.

experiencing hardship

This alternative highlights the difficult conditions someone is facing.

feeling anguish

This denotes a deep sense of sorrow, pain or distress.

in agony

This indicates a state of intense physical or mental pain.

going through torment

This phrase illustrates intense mental or physical suffering.

afflicted with

This suggests being affected by a disease or problem causing pain.

grappling with adversity

This alternative underscores the struggle against unfavorable circumstances.

facing tribulations

This emphasizes the challenges and hardships one encounters.

bearing the brunt of

This highlights being the primary recipient of negative consequences or suffering.

FAQs

How is "suffering" typically used in a sentence?

The word "suffering" can function as a noun, adjective, or verb. As a verb, it's often used in the present participle form (suffering from) to describe someone experiencing pain or distress, like in, "He is suffering from a cold". As a noun, it denotes the state of pain or distress itself, as in, "The suffering of the victims was immense".

What are some alternatives to the word "suffering"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "suffering" include "distress", "hardship", "agony", "torment", or "anguish". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "suffering with" instead of "suffering from"?

While "suffering from" is the more common and generally preferred construction, "suffering with" is sometimes used, particularly in more informal contexts. However, "suffering from" is usually clearer and more precise.

What is the difference between "suffering" and "hardship"?

"Suffering" generally refers to a state of pain, distress, or discomfort, whether physical or emotional. "Hardship", on the other hand, refers more broadly to difficult or challenging conditions of life. You might experience hardship without necessarily experiencing intense suffering, and vice versa.