When someone suffers a misfortune, it means that they have experienced a negative event or circumstance that has caused them harm, loss or disappointment. There are several synonyms for the phrase "suffered a misfortune" that can be used to describe this situation more precisely. Some examples include "endured a setback," "experienced a mishap," "faced adversity," "confronted misadventure," "encountered a tragedy," "met with difficulty," "fell on hard times," "had a stroke of bad luck," "gone through hardship," and "been through a tough patch." These phrases can be used interchangeably depending on the context and intensity of the negative experience.