hurting
n. uncountable B1 Intermediate US //ˈhɝtɪŋ// UK //hˈɜːtɪŋ// hurt·ing
n. a feeling of physical or emotional pain. You use this word to describe the state of being in distress or suffering.
n. the experience of physical or emotional pain; a state of suffering or distress. Often used in a psychological context to describe deep emotional trauma.
There was a lot of hurting in the community after the factory closed.
The counselor spent years helping people deal with the deep hurting caused by their past experiences.
The novel explores the generational hurting that persists long after a conflict has ended, showing how silence can sometimes deepen the wound.
Usage
Typically used as an uncountable noun to describe a general state of pain; less common than the gerund or participial adjective forms.