sufferingsuf‧fer‧ing /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/ ●○○ noun [countable, uncountable] 
the suffering of the refugees after the war the pain and suffering caused by road accidents► see thesaurus at pain
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- It is hard to imagine the pain and suffering they went through.
- Reporters described the suffering they had seen in the war zone.
- The earthquake has caused massive damage and a great deal of human suffering.
- Because of this, suffering is less of a threat to happiness, while it spells death to the pleasure-seeking life.
- But any conscious attempt to disregard this proportionality would inflict unnecessary losses and suffering.
- Developing your body and your soul, exercise and suffering, were both facets of a supremely masculine fortification of the spirit.
- Like penicillin, cephalosporin has saved the lives or relieved the suffering of countless patients and animals world-wide.
- Now the milestone has been passed - and there is still no end in sight to the slaughter and suffering.
- The chief effect is to highlight the horror of the desolate and pre-human world of purposeless suffering.
- We have often a choice: self pity or spiritual power through suffering.
THESAURUS
noun [countable, uncountable] the feeling when part of your body hurts: · A broken leg can cause a lot of pain.· He felt a sharp pain in his chest.
noun [countable, uncountable] a continuous pain, especially one that is not very bad. Most commonly used in compounds such as headache, toothache, and backache: · I felt an ache in my back after decorating all day.· Driving gives me a headache.· I’ve got stomach ache.· Do you have earache?
noun [countable] a sudden slight pain that comes and then disappears quickly: · When I bent down I felt a twinge in my back.
noun [uncountable] formal an uncomfortable feeling in your body, or a slight pain: · The procedure takes five minutes and only causes slight discomfort.
noun [uncountable] a feeling of great pain, or a situation in which you feel a lot of pain: · the agony of childbirth· I was in agony by the time I got to the hospital.· It was agony (=very painful)getting up out of bed.
noun [uncountable] continuous physical or mental pain, which makes someone very unhappy: · I just wanted someone to put an end to my suffering.· the suffering of the earthquake victims
noun [countable, uncountable] the feeling when part of your body hurts: · A broken leg can cause a lot of pain.· He felt a sharp pain in his chest.
noun [countable, uncountable] a continuous pain, especially one that is not very bad. Most commonly used in compounds such as headache, toothache, and backache: · I felt an ache in my back after decorating all day.· Driving gives me a headache.· I’ve got stomach ache.· Do you have earache?
noun [countable] a sudden slight pain that comes and then disappears quickly: · When I bent down I felt a twinge in my back.
noun [uncountable] formal an uncomfortable feeling in your body, or a slight pain: · The procedure takes five minutes and only causes slight discomfort.
noun [uncountable] a feeling of great pain, or a situation in which you feel a lot of pain: · the agony of childbirth· I was in agony by the time I got to the hospital.· It was agony (=very painful)getting up out of bed.
noun [uncountable] continuous physical or mental pain, which makes someone very unhappy: · I just wanted someone to put an end to my suffering.· the suffering of the earthquake victims
Longman Language Activatorsomething painful or unpleasant that you suffer very unpleasant, painful, or upsetting conditions - use this especially about a situation that affects a lot of people: · The earthquake has caused massive damage and a great deal of human suffering.· Reporters described the suffering they had seen in the war zone.
when your life is difficult and uncomfortable, especially because you are very poor: · During the war we faced many hardships.· Rising food prices caused great hardship for most of the population.· Many students suffer financial hardship.
a difficult and unpleasant situation, in which people are suffering a lot and that makes you feel great sympathy for them: · The film deals with the nomadic desert people of the Sahel, whose plight has worsened in the recent years of drought.· A new report exposes the plight of skilled nurses, who work long hours for very low rates of pay.
a very sad, difficult, and unpleasant situation in which people suffer a lot, especially over a long time: · In the book she describes the agony of watching her child die.· With renewed fighting for control of the capital, there seems to be no end to the region's agony.
severe mental suffering, often continuing for a long time: · She suffered years of private torment over her decision to have her children adopted.· It's difficult for us to understand the torment the hostages are going through.
written a situation in which you have continuing difficulties that seem to be caused by bad luck: · They have suffered more than their fair share of adversity and managed to overcome it every time.in the face of adversity (=when experiencing adversity): · She somehow manages to keep laughing in the face of adversity.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY the pain and suffering caused by road accidentsCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a new medicine to alleviate the symptoms of flu The outbreak of hostilities will cause incalculable misery. I’m suffering from jet lag but I’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep. his long-suffering wife
the pain and suffering caused by road accidents a new medicine to alleviate the symptoms of flu formal (=have one)· He was suffering from a cold and not his usual energetic self.
The outbreak of hostilities will cause incalculable misery. I’m suffering from jet lag but I’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep. his long-suffering wife· She admitted causing the dog unnecessary suffering.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Indifference rather than intention may be the cause of greater human suffering, particularly with regard to corporate crime.· This is understandable as, given the choice, no one wants to go through great suffering or pain.· And this was the greatest suffering to him.· Loving rebellious children unselfishly can bring great suffering to parents.· The suffering involved in facing the enormity of man's potential for sin is the only cure for the greater suffering.· Such debris from the practice of fishing leads to great suffering among wildlife and also among domesticated animals.
· Debt and the destruction of war have brought major economic setbacks, aside from damage to social services and human suffering.· Few men can have done more to relieve human suffering, or shown less interest in profiting from the process.· Indifference rather than intention may be the cause of greater human suffering, particularly with regard to corporate crime.· There is no suggestion that the primary ethical task is to relieve the immense weight of human suffering. 11.· His photographs and descriptions convey concern for the human suffering resulting from natural disasters.· Indeed, it would be seen as a major source of avoidable and illegal human suffering.· This reaction was based on the understanding that atomic bombs cause widespread death and destruction and extreme human suffering.· Each country was affected by the unprecedented military build up, the collapse of the precarious economy and the human suffering.
· He had carried out a deliberate act causing unnecessary suffering and cruelty.· But in Leeds High Court, a vet denied the mink endured unnecessary suffering.· They are both accused of fourteen offences of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.· Woodruff admitted causing unnecessary suffering when she appeared before Swindon Magistrates.· But any conscious attempt to disregard this proportionality would inflict unnecessary losses and suffering.· Doctors were unable to treat them unless and until their parents had been traced and this could cause unnecessary suffering.· He denied two charges of abandoning the pets in circumstances likely to cause them unnecessary suffering on October 23 last year.
VERB· In the old, inherited sense fundamentalism is a good thing because it alleviates pain and suffering.· May we play our small part in helping to alleviate the poverty and suffering of the world.· She is the chairman of the Animal Defenders Youth Group, whose aim is to expose and alleviate animal suffering.
· He had carried out a deliberate act causing unnecessary suffering and cruelty.· They are both accused of fourteen offences of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.· And these self-centred ways automatically cause suffering and, ultimately, curtailment of the activity.· Woodruff admitted causing unnecessary suffering when she appeared before Swindon Magistrates.· Aquino's economic cutbacks, imposed on her for all the right reasons, have caused considerable suffering.· Doctors were unable to treat them unless and until their parents had been traced and this could cause unnecessary suffering.· He denied two charges of abandoning the pets in circumstances likely to cause them unnecessary suffering on October 23 last year.
WORD FAMILYnounsufferersufferingsufferanceadjectiveinsufferableverbsufferadverbinsufferably
serious physical or mental pain: the suffering of the refugees after the war the pain and suffering caused by road accidents► see thesaurus at pain