Suffering vs. Pain — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on October 19, 2023
Suffering encompasses mental or emotional distress; Pain is a physical or emotional sensation that's often unpleasant.
Difference Between Suffering and Pain
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Suffering and pain, while closely related, highlight distinct aspects of negative human experiences. Suffering often represents a broader emotional or mental distress, potentially stemming from a variety of causes like grief, disappointment, or anguish. One can suffer from loneliness, depression, or the loss of a loved one. It encapsulates the overall state of undergoing hardship or distress.
On the other hand, pain is usually more specific and is typically an unpleasant sensory or emotional experience associated with actual or potential bodily harm. It's something that's often tangible and acute, like the pain from a broken bone or a burn. It can also be chronic, lingering for prolonged periods, like the pain of a longstanding illness.
Grammatically, both suffering and pain function as nouns. "Suffer" is the verb form associated with suffering, while "pain" can also act as a verb, like when someone "pains" another with hurtful words. Pain is often associated with a direct cause-effect relationship, as in, when something harmful happens, pain is the resultant feeling.
The emotional and experiential layers of suffering and pain sometimes overlap. For instance, emotional pain, like heartbreak, feels as real and acute as physical pain. However, suffering seems more extensive, potentially encompassing various aspects of an individual's life, whereas pain, whether emotional or physical, is typically more localized in its nature.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Broad emotional or mental distress.
Unpleasant sensory or emotional experience linked to harm.
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Nature
General state of hardship or distress.
Typically specific and acute or chronic.
Grammatical Use
Primarily a noun; "suffer" as the verb.
Noun; can also function as a verb.
Cause-Effect
Not always directly linked to a specific cause.
Often has a clear, identifiable cause.
Range
Can be vast, affecting various life aspects.
Typically more localized in its nature.
Compare with Definitions
Suffering
Enduring unfavorable or adverse conditions.
Suffering in silence, she faced her challenges.
Pain
A feeling of discomfort caused by injury or illness.
The pain in his leg was unbearable.
Suffering
Mental or emotional anguish.
The loss led to her prolonged suffering.
Pain
Mental or emotional distress.
The pain of betrayal was evident in his eyes.
Suffering
The state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship.
The war caused immense suffering among civilians.
Pain
Something that annoys or distresses.
It's a pain to redo the entire project.
Suffering
The act of undergoing or experiencing harm.
The suffering of animals in some experiments is undeniable.
Pain
An unpleasant feeling occurring as a result of injury or disease, usually localized in some part of the body
Felt pains in his chest.
Suffering
The condition of one who suffers; the bearing of pain or distress.
Pain
Bodily suffering characterized by such feelings
Drugs to treat pain.
Suffering
An instance of pain or distress.
Pain
Mental or emotional suffering; distress.
Suffering
Experiencing pain; characterized by suffering.
Pain
An instance of this
The pains of humiliation.
Suffering
The condition of someone who suffers; a state of pain or distress.
Pain
Pains The pangs of childbirth.
Suffering
Present participle of suffer
Pain
Pains Great care or effort
Taking pains with one's work.
Suffering
The bearing of pain, inconvenience, or loss; pain endured; distress, loss, or injury incurred; as, sufferings by pain or sorrow; sufferings by want or by wrongs.
Pain
(Informal) A source of annoyance; a nuisance
Stuffing all these envelopes is a real pain.
Suffering
Being in pain or grief; having loss, injury, distress, etc.
Pain
To cause physical pain to; hurt
My feet really pained me after the hike.
Suffering
A state of acute pain
Pain
To cause mental or emotional distress to
"It pained him to remember every little thing about her" (John Irving).
Suffering
Misery resulting from affliction
Pain
An ache or bodily suffering, or an instance of this; an unpleasant sensation, resulting from a derangement of functions, disease, or injury by violence; hurt.
The greatest difficulty lies in treating patients with chronic pain.
I had to stop running when I started getting pains in my feet.
Suffering
Psychological suffering;
The death of his wife caused him great distress
Pain
(uncountable) The condition or fact of suffering or anguish especially mental, as opposed to pleasure; torment; distress
In the final analysis, pain is a fact of life.
The pain of departure was difficult to bear.
Suffering
Feelings of mental or physical pain
Pain
An annoying person or thing.
Your mother is a right pain.
Suffering
Troubled by pain or loss;
Suffering refugees
Pain
Suffering inflicted as punishment or penalty.
You may not leave this room on pain of death.
Suffering
Very unhappy; full of misery;
He felt depressed and miserable
A message of hope for suffering humanity
Wretched prisoners huddled in stinking cages
Pain
Labour; effort; great care or trouble taken in doing something.
Suffering
The endurance of discomfort or adversity.
He witnessed the suffering of the impoverished.
Pain
Any of various breads stuffed with a filling.
Gammon pain; Spanish pain
Pain
(transitive) To hurt; to put to bodily uneasiness or anguish; to afflict with uneasy sensations of any degree of intensity; to torment; to torture.
The wound pained him.
Pain
(transitive) To render uneasy in mind; to disquiet; to distress; to grieve.
It pains me to say that I must let you go.
Pain
To inflict suffering upon as a penalty; to punish.
Pain
To feel pain; to hurt.
Please help me, I am paining hard.
Pain
Punishment suffered or denounced; suffering or evil inflicted as a punishment for crime, or connected with the commission of a crime; penalty.
We will, by way of mulct or pain, lay it upon him.
Interpose, on pain of my displeasure.
None shall presume to fly, under pain of death.
Pain
Any uneasy sensation in animal bodies, from slight uneasiness to extreme distress or torture, proceeding from a derangement of functions, disease, or injury by violence; bodily distress; bodily suffering; an ache; a smart.
Pain
Specifically, the throes or travail of childbirth.
She bowed herself and travailed, for her pains came upon her.
Pain
Uneasiness of mind; mental distress; disquietude; anxiety; grief; solicitude; anguish. Also called mental pain.
In rapture as in pain.
Pain
See Pains, labor, effort.
Pain
To inflict suffering upon as a penalty; to punish.
Pain
To put to bodily uneasiness or anguish; to afflict with uneasy sensations of any degree of intensity; to torment; to torture; as, his dinner or his wound pained him; his stomach pained him.
Excess of cold, as well as heat, pains us.
Pain
To render uneasy in mind; to disquiet; to distress; to grieve; as, a child's faults pain his parents.
I am pained at my very heart.
Pain
A symptom of some physical hurt or disorder;
The patient developed severe pain and distension
Pain
Emotional distress; a fundamental feeling that people try to avoid;
The pain of loneliness
Pain
A somatic sensation of acute discomfort;
As the intensity increased the sensation changed from tickle to pain
Pain
A bothersome annoying person;
That kid is a terrible pain
Pain
Something or someone that causes trouble; a source of unhappiness;
Washing dishes was a nuisance before we got a dish washer
A bit of a bother
He's not a friend, he's an infliction
Pain
Cause bodily suffering to
Pain
Cause emotional anguish or make miserable;
It pains me to see my children not being taught well in school
Pain
Effort or trouble taken to achieve something.
She took great pain in organizing the event.
Pain
To cause discomfort or distress.
His words pained her deeply.
Common Curiosities
Can pain lead to suffering?
Yes, prolonged or intense pain can lead to broader emotional or mental suffering.
Is all suffering related to pain?
No, suffering can arise from various sources, not just pain.
Are suffering and pain synonymous?
While related, they're not synonymous. Suffering is broad distress; pain is specific discomfort.
Can one feel pain without suffering?
Yes, one might feel temporary pain without long-term emotional distress or suffering.
How is emotional pain different from physical pain?
Emotional pain stems from psychological factors; physical pain is linked to bodily harm.
Is the pain always a negative experience?
While generally unpleasant, pain can sometimes be a helpful signal of an underlying issue.
How is suffering depicted in literature?
Suffering is often portrayed as a transformative experience, leading to growth or change.
Can one be in pain but not realize it?
Yes, in some cases, especially with chronic conditions, individuals might not always be acutely aware of pain.
What's the purpose of pain in the human body?
Pain often serves as a warning signal indicating potential or actual harm.
Can emotional pain cause physical pain?
Yes, emotional distress can manifest as physical symptoms, like headaches or fatigue.
Why do people have varying thresholds for pain?
Genetics, environment, experiences, and psychological factors can influence pain thresholds.
Why do some people tolerate high levels of pain without suffering?
Factors like resilience, coping mechanisms, and past experiences can influence pain perception and suffering.
Can animals experience pain and suffering?
Yes, many animals show signs of experiencing both pain and suffering.
How do painkillers work?
Painkillers typically block or reduce the production of pain signals in the body.
Are there treatments specifically for suffering?
While not always direct, therapies, counseling, and support can help address and alleviate suffering.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
