suffer crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk! If you're tackling the clue "suffer crossword clue," you've come to the right place. We've compiled a comprehensive list of solutions, along with explanations to help you understand the nuances of each answer and boost your crossword skills.
Solutions for "suffer crossword clue" by Letter Count
3 Letters
AIL: To feel unwell or be in poor health, often implying a less severe or chronic condition.
4 Letters
BEAR: To endure or carry a burden, often implying a capacity for resilience or patience.
6 Letters
ENDURE: To undergo or put up with something difficult, unpleasant, or painful for a long time.
7 Letters
UNDERGO: To experience or be subjected to something, typically something difficult, unpleasant, or new.
8 Letters
TOLERATE: To allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of something without interference, often something one does not necessarily like or agree with.
10 Letters
EXPERIENCE: To encounter or undergo an event or occurrence, often with a focus on the personal impact.
More About "suffer crossword clue"
The clue "suffer" in crosswords can be surprisingly versatile, depending on the context and the required letter count. At its core, "suffer" means to experience something unpleasant, painful, or difficult. This leads to common answers like AIL, BEAR, and ENDURE, which directly reflect the endurance of hardship or discomfort.
However, "suffer" can also imply simply undergoing an experience, whether good or bad, which opens up solutions like UNDERGO or EXPERIENCE. In more archaic or formal contexts, "suffer" can even mean to permit or allow, as in the phrase "suffer not evil." While less common in modern crosswords, this older meaning might occasionally appear in themed or more challenging puzzles, hinting at answers like ALLOW or PERMIT.
Always consider the number of letters required and any crossing letters you already have. This will significantly narrow down the possibilities and help you pinpoint the precise meaning the crossword setter intended for "suffer."
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Check Letter Count First: Always match your potential answers to the exact number of letters required. This is the most crucial step in solving any crossword clue.
- Consider Synonyms and Nuances: For a word like "suffer," think about its various synonyms (bear, endure, undergo) and the subtle differences in their meanings. The setter might be looking for a specific shade of meaning.
- Look for Common Crossword Angles: Some words have common crossword "tricks" or specific synonyms that appear often. For "suffer," consider the less obvious meanings like 'allow' if common answers don't fit.
- Use Crossing Letters: If you have letters from intersecting words, use them to confirm or rule out potential solutions for "suffer." This is fundamental to crossword solving.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between "suffer" and "bear" in crosswords?
"Suffer" generally implies experiencing pain or hardship. "Bear," while also meaning to endure, often suggests carrying a burden or showing resilience. In crosswords, they are often interchangeable, but the exact nuance or letter count will dictate the answer.
Is "suffer" always negative in crossword clues?
Most often, yes, "suffer" implies a negative experience. However, in some older or formal contexts, it can simply mean 'to undergo' or 'to permit,' which is more neutral. Be aware of these less common meanings for trickier clues.
Why do some answers for "suffer" seem very different, like "ail" vs. "tolerate"?
The versatility of "suffer" in English allows for a range of meanings from experiencing physical discomfort ('ail') to enduring difficult circumstances ('endure'), or even allowing something to happen ('tolerate'). Crossword setters leverage this breadth of meaning to create diverse clues.