Advertisement
Advertisement
long-suffering
[ lawng-suhf-er-ing, -suhf-ring, long- ]
adjective
- enduring injury, trouble, or provocation long and patiently.
noun
- long and patient endurance of injury, trouble, or provocation:
years of long-suffering and illness.
long-suffering
adjective
- enduring pain, unhappiness, etc, without complaint
noun
- long and patient endurance
Derived Forms
- Ëąô´Ç˛Ô˛ľ-˲őłÜ´Ú´Úąđ°ůžą˛Ô˛ľąô˛â, adverb
Other yĐÄvlog Forms
- ąô´Ç˛Ô˛ľî-˛őłÜ´Úîfąđ°ů¡žą˛Ô˛ľÂˇąô˛â adverb
yĐÄvlog History and Origins
Origin of long-suffering1
Example Sentences
At the height of his success at Arkansas, he led a long-suffering Razorback hoops program on consecutive trips to the Elite Eight.
The teamâs long-suffering fans hasnât seen a playoff game â must less a winning season â since 2019.
None of this will be much comfort to the long-suffering people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He has worked at the show since 2001 and has absorbed the bossâs unflappable steadiness, with a tinge of the long-suffering.â
Crossingham reflected on the fact that stories about a cheese enthusiast and his loyal but long-suffering dog always seem to go down so well in the US, despite the films firmly rooted in UK culture.
Advertisement
More About Long Suffering
What doesĚýlong-suffering mean?
Long-suffering is most commonly used as an adjective to describe someone who patiently endures negative situations for long periods of time without complaining.
Itâs often used in situations in which someone has endured pain, injury, illness, hardship, tragedy, or difficulty in accomplishing something. Itâs also often used to describe a person who has stood by or supported someone during a difficult time.
Sometimes, itâs used in the context of situations that arenât very serious, such as to describe the faithful and long-suffering fans of a team that always loses. Itâs also often used to describe a spouse as patiently enduring the whims or aggravating behaviors of their partner, as in My long-suffering husband merely sighed when I brought home yet another stray cat.
Importantly, though, long-suffering doesnât simply indicate that someone has endured bad things for a long timeâit implies that they have endured such things without complaint.
Long-suffering can also be used as a noun meaning the patient endurance of negative situations without complaint. It can refer to a quality, an ability, or an instance of such endurance.
In religious contexts, long-suffering is discussed as a virtue, especially one involving being patient and slow to get angry. A close synonym is forbearance.
Long-suffering is sometimes spelled as one word, without a hyphen, as longsuffering. Itâs perhaps most commonly spelled this way when itâs used as a noun.
Example: My long-suffering family has made so many sacrifices without complaint during this long ordeal.
Where doesĚýlong-suffering come from?
The first records of the term long-suffering come from the 1520s. The word suffering in long-suffering isnât necessarily used in the sense of experiencing agonizing physical or emotional pain. It can refer to this, but the suffering experienced isnât necessarily this intense.
Long-suffering can be used in a range of situations, ranging from patiently tolerating annoyances to enduring long periods of serious illness. Using long-suffering to describe a person is a compliment that often shows a deep level of respect for their ability to withstand hardship.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to long-suffering?
- longsuffering (nonhyphenated spelling, usually used for the noun sense)
- long-sufferingly (adverb)
What are some synonyms for long-suffering?
What are some words that share a root or word element with long-suffering?Ěý
Ěý
What are some words that often get used in discussing long-suffering?
Ěý
How isĚýlong-suffering used in real life?
Long-suffering is somewhat formal, though it can be used in contexts that arenât very serious.
If I were an Arewa woman, I wouldâve long been confined in a mental institution. Itâs sad that culturally privileged men think itâs wise to demonize women challenging their place as long-suffering victims of gender-based violence. The attacks on reflect poorly on us.
â Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda)
With apologies to my long-suffering wife âŚ
⌠who this weekend is stuck with me excitedly talking about minimalist robots made in the 1980s from Walkmans and how they changed *everything*
I love you, . Sorry. Mostly. Sorta.
â J Wolfgang Goerlich (@jwgoerlich)
There is no better NFL opening than Cleveland. The Browns' future is brighter than some playoff teams. Couldn't be happier for their long-suffering fans.
â Jim Trotter (@JimTrotter_NFL)
Ěý
Try usingĚýlong-suffering!
Which of the following terms is NOT a synonym of longâsuffering?
A. abiding
B. quick-tempered
C. enduring
D. forbearing
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse