afflicted 1 of 2

afflicted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of afflict

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of afflicted
Adjective
The afflicted man instead went to a Dawson hospital, where he was fed only raw potatoes and charged $10 a day for the privilege. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 12 June 2022 For nearly five years, the lingering hope of the pundit class (and, notably, the Biden campaign) was that the Trump fever would eventually burn itself out and those so afflicted would awake from its throes eager to be normal again. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 6 Jan. 2022 Regarding Cuba now, there seems to be an additional Russian objective: weakening U.S. and Canadian intelligence on the island by forcing the evacuation of afflicted spies and diplomatic personnel. Néstor T. Carbonell, National Review, 12 Apr. 2021 Some of the bikers pouring into the area are coming from distant states far more afflicted. CBS News, 10 Aug. 2020 Kroger officials said McMullen had planned to remove his mask for the event, which was not attended by Pence's afflicted press secretary Katie Miller who stayed in Washington. Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati.com, 11 May 2020 Symptoms of the illness are similar to pneumonia, although videos have been posted that purportedly show afflicted people collapsing on the street, bleeding from their mouths, and being treated by doctors wearing hazmat suits. Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, 25 Jan. 2020 Mealy bugs can be a real problem, not just for the afflicted plant but for neighboring, healthy houseplants. Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2019 Making a compelling financial case to fight climate change and to help the most afflicted demands a rigorous accounting of its effects. Umair Irfan, Vox, 9 Oct. 2018
Verb
Ringo was yellow submarines and octopus gardens, the mascot little brother, despite being the eldest Beatle, and the best at flittering above the feuds that afflicted the trio of geniuses around him. Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025 Unfortunately, this fresh ailment has afflicted him for the majority of his 2024-25 run. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025 The 73-year-old woman’s husband, who is afflicted with dementia and uses a wheelchair, was not able to help, and Echelbarger succumbed to her injuries. Laura Barcella, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025 Most of the United States’ Northeastern states would be among the more afflicted, as would be the Great Lakes region. Katharina Buchholz, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 In a state and city so afflicted by the culture of corruption, as the Tribune reported exhaustively last year in a series of pieces tracing our sordid history, federal prosecutors have played an indispensable role in unearthing these stories and making our politicians pay for abusing their offices. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025 For several reasons, women tend to be most afflicted. Stacey Colino, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025 In pulling off the balance between the morbid premise and the humanity of the character afflicted by it, director Rashida Jones relies on Erivo’s ability to get across the panic and dread of the situation with the subtlest of brush strokes. Sezin Koehler, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2025 This, in turn, led to waves of protest and a series of arsons that afflicted 24 churches over the next two years. The Editors, National Review, 28 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflicted
Adjective
  • But behind the chants and cheering lies a troubled past.
    Tomás Hill López-Menchero, New York Times, 31 May 2025
  • This year the American/JetBlue relationship became so troubled that American sued JetBlue.
    Ted Reed, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • The exhibition will showcase the radical contributions of disabled, deaf and neurodivergent people and communities to design and contemporary culture, stretching from the 1940s to the present day.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • From the rotation, Tyler Glasnow ($30 million this year), Blake Snell ($26 million) and Roki Sasaki (a bargain at $760,000) are all disabled (to use the old baseball terminology).
    Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • While Shawna and John were meant to be having a romantic anniversary dinner, Barb showed up unannounced and undermined Jennifer’s already feeble attempts at following the evening routine laid out for the young children.
    Sara Belcher, People.com, 9 May 2025
  • Rather than attempt a feeble defense of himself, Nick attacks June for the same willful ignorance her mother accused her of in Alaska.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2025
Verb
  • In recent months, the Kennedy Center has been besieged by performance cancelations both voluntary and involuntary.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2025
  • At the start of the invasion, Russian troops besieged the city, forcing residents to endure harsh winter conditions without electricity or water under constant shelling from Russian artillery, missiles and drones.
    Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • No longer the beloved Renaissance prince of his youth, Henry was, by his mid-40s, an increasingly infirm and mercurial monarch who had few qualms about sending his closest companions—among them the aforementioned Thomas More—to the executioner’s block.
    Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Mar. 2025
  • They’re designed for Americans that are struggling, that are below the poverty line, or that are infirm, that can’t work and afford health care.
    Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Peter’s ultimate prescription to treat the diseased system of money and power was to get rid of the cabal of satanic Jews that has taken over the world outside his Kingdom.
    Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 19 May 2025
  • After removal, the T-cells are genetically modified to recognize a specific protein within cancer cells and infused back into the patient’s immune system to search and destroy the diseased cells.
    Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2025
Adjective
  • The move came after state public health inspectors fined Golden Legacy for handcuffing an incapacitated patient’s ankle to the bed in violation of state and federal laws.
    Don Thompson, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The 25th Amendment also has a controversial provision that allows the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet, or the majority of another body that Congress designated by law, to initiate the transfer of powers from an incapacitated president to the vice president.
    Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Lambrusco became synonymous with that sickly tipple—which bore no resemblance to the refreshingly dry and crisp Lambrusco guzzled by Italians.
    Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2025
  • In This Article How To Identify Spider Mites Understanding Spider Mites How To Get Rid Of Spider Mites If your once-vigorous plant is starting to look sickly, spider mites may be the culprits.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Afflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflicted. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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