suffering has definitions from the fields of psychology,medicine
1
[ noun ] (medicine) a state of acute pain

Synonyms

agony excruciation

Used in print

(Brand Blanshard, "The Emotive Theory," Robert...)

If so , then it is clear that in saying the suffering was bad we are not expressing our feelings only .

Let us suppose that the animal did not in_fact fall into the trap and did not suffer at_all , but that we mistakenly believe it did , and say as before that its suffering was an evil thing .

If anyone asked us , after we made the remark that the suffering was a bad thing , whether we should think it relevant to what we said to learn that the incident had never occurred and no pain had been suffered at_all , we should say that it made all the difference in_the_world , that what we were asserting to be bad was precisely the suffering we thought had occurred back there , that if this had not occurred , there was nothing left to be bad , and that our assertion was in that case mistaken .

If anyone asked us , after we made the remark that the suffering was a bad thing , whether we should think it relevant to what we said to learn that the incident had never occurred and no pain had been suffered at_all , we should say that it made all the difference in_the_world , that what we were asserting to be bad was precisely the suffering we thought had occurred back there , that if this had not occurred , there was nothing left to be bad , and that our assertion was in that case mistaken .

The suggestion that in saying something evil had occurred we were after_all making no mistake , because we had never meant anyhow to say anything about the past suffering , seems to me merely frivolous .

2
[ noun ] misery resulting from affliction

Synonyms

woe

Used in print

(Joyce O. Hertzler, American Social Institutions;...)

His religious_beliefs provide him with plausible explanations for many conditions which cause him great concern , and his religious faith makes possible fortitude , equanimity , and consolation , enabling him to endure colossal misfortune , fear , frustration , uncertainty , suffering , evil , and danger .

(J. H. Hexter, "Thomas More: On the Margins...)

Secondly , to find a learned diversion and a pleasing joke in More 's account of the stupid brutalities of early sixteenth century wars , of the anguish of the poor and dispossessed , of the insolence and cruelty of the rich and powerful requires a callousness toward suffering and sin that would be surprising in a moral imbecile and most surprising in More himself .

(John Michael Ray, "Rhode Island's Reactions...)

Resolved that his wrongs and bereavements in Kansas , occasioned by the violence and brutality of those who were intent_on the propagation of slavery in that territory , call_for a charitable judgment upon his recent efforts in Virginia to undermine the despotism from which he had suffered , and commend his family to the special sympathy and aid of all who pity suffering and reverence justice .

(Robert Penn Warren, Wilderness....)

Then why was he assuming the role - the gesture and the suffering ?

Or was he now taking the role - the gesture and the suffering - because it was the only way to affirm his history and identity in the torpid , befogged loneliness of this land .

Related terms

misery suffer

3
[ noun ] (psychology) psychological suffering

Synonyms

distress hurt

Examples

"the death of his wife caused him great distress"

Used in print

(Jack Kaplan, "The Health Machine Menace: Therapy by...)

But the machine quack can cause far more than just suffering .

(Howard Nemerov, "Themes and Methods: The Early...)

The horrifying humor , the specifically sexual embarrassment of the joke gone_wrong , the monstrous image of the fat man dressed_up as a whore dressing_up as a baby ; the epiphany of that quivering flesh ; the bringing_together around it of the secret liaison between indolent , mindless sensuality and sharp , shrewd talent , cleverness with an occasional touch of genius ( which , however , does not know `` how to attack the problem of suffering '' ) ; the miraculous way in which music , revelation and death are associated in a single instant - all this seems a triumph of art , a rather desperate art , in itself ; beyond itself , also , it evokes numerous and distant resonances from the entire body of Mann 's work .

Again , the sufferings and disasters produced by any transgression against the commandment not to love are almost invariably associated in one way or another with childhood , with the figure of a child .

That this abandonment takes_place on a stage , during an ' artistic ' performance , is enough to associate Jacoby with art , and to bring_down upon him the punishment for art ; that_is , he is suspect , guilty , punishable , as is anyone in Mann 's stories who produces illusion , and this is true even_though the constant elements of the artist nature , technique , magic , guilt and suffering , are divided in this story between Jacoby and La^utner .

(John Cheever, "The Brigadier and the Golf Widow,"...)

The remarks she made about the sufferings of a lonely woman seemed so broad at_first that he did n't know what to make_of them , but after the sixth drink he put his arm around her and suggested that they go upstairs and look_for her checkbook there .

4
[ noun ] feelings of mental or physical pain

Synonyms

hurt

Used in print

(Jack Kaplan, "The Health Machine Menace: Therapy by...)

And she felt amply rewarded for her suffering when the evidence of Lee 's quack shenanigans , gathered by the tape_recorder under her friend 's clothing , proved adequate in court for convicting Franklin_D._Lee .

5
[ adjective ] troubled by pain or loss

Examples

"suffering refugees"

Used in print

(Howard Nemerov, "Themes and Methods: The Early...)

His appearance as Lizzy evokes not amusement but horror in the audience ; it is a spectacle absolutely painful , an epiphany of the suffering flesh unredeemed by spirit , untouched by any spirit other_than abasement and humiliation .

Related terms

troubled

6
[ adjective ] very unhappy; full of misery

Synonyms

miserable wretched

Examples

"he felt depressed and miserable" "a message of hope for suffering humanity" "wretched prisoners huddled in stinking cages"

Used in print

(Howard Nemerov, "Themes and Methods: The Early...)

a suffering form , an existence wholly comprised in the awareness of death .

Related terms

unhappy

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