1
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
she listened with deep affliction as her daughter told her about the latest trouble she was in
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2
as in sorrow
deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved
felt such great affliction over the destruction of the beautiful old home
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3
as in curse
a source of harm or misfortune
alcohol has been his affliction ever since he took his first drink at the age of 12
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4
5
as in injury
something that causes loss or pain
cronyism and corruption are afflictions on the body politic
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of affliction
Republicans, however, suffer from an inverse affliction, a form of congenital overconfidence that comes straight from the leader who has reinvented the G.O.P. in his braggadocious image.
—
Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
Later medical literature sometimes painted lovesickness as an affliction that affected men in particular.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
The brand’s initial products—balms and salves—are crafted specifically to address chronic muscle pain and inflammation, common afflictions for anyone who’s put their body through rigorous physical demands.
—Javier Hasse, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Here, the setting is primarily the apartment where Callas spent the last days of her life—dying ostensibly from a heart attack, but suffering from numerous afflictions—at the age of 53 in 1977.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for affliction 
Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
Later medical literature sometimes painted lovesickness as an affliction that affected men in particular.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
The brand’s initial products—balms and salves—are crafted specifically to address chronic muscle pain and inflammation, common afflictions for anyone who’s put their body through rigorous physical demands.
—Javier Hasse, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Here, the setting is primarily the apartment where Callas spent the last days of her life—dying ostensibly from a heart attack, but suffering from numerous afflictions—at the age of 53 in 1977.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for affliction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affliction
Noun
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After Cox’s death, her estate, including her husband Kevin, filed a lawsuit against Wilson and the Park District alleging misconduct in the workplace and that alleged actions and a toxic work environment led to emotional distress for his wife in her final months of employment at the Park District.—
Daniel I. Dorfman,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2025
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Fires across the Los Angeles area have destroyed thousands of structures and caused massive emotional distress in the industry-leading epicenter, prompting mass evacuations of nearly 200,000 residents.—
Thania Garcia,
Variety,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In a heartfelt statement from Truex's children – Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Truex, and Marsha McVey, the family shared their deep sorrow, paying tribute to their late father.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
18 Jan. 2025
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Inaugurations have been held in both joy and sorrow in the nation's capital and, infamously, on a plane in Dallas.—
James Powel,
USA TODAY,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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And anyone who believed in curses was gaining some evidence.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
19 Jan. 2025
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Cubs fan sabotages his own team and extends the most infamous curse in MLB history During Game 6 of the 2003 National League Division vs. the then-Florida Marlins, Chicago Cubs fan Steve Bartman reached out and grabbed a ball that could have been caught.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Audiard long had imagined an internal struggle within Emilia between man and woman, demon and angel.—
Julian Sancton,
The Hollywood Reporter,
11 Jan. 2025
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Off to Buffalo: Will the last demon exorcised from Empower Field please turn out the lights?—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
5 Jan. 2025
Noun
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These surfaces could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
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The Pelicans were unlikely to move him anyway, as teams that interacted with them before his injury found New Orleans’ asking price was extraordinarily high.—
Christian Clark,
The Athletic,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Every muscle is in pure agony, but the show must go on.—
Emma Sharpe,
Vulture,
1 Jan. 2025
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Passion, poignancy, ecstasy, agony and a Tic Tac ad Best game Everton 2-0 Liverpool, of course.—
Patrick Boyland,
The Athletic,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
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However, numbers cannot articulate the magnitude of anguish as the disaster upends families and dismantles livelihoods.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
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The stark destruction has brought him to his knees in prayer and anguish.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA TODAY,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Evans will be reunited in Sunday’s NFC wild-card game with cornerback Marshon Lattimore, his former Saints nemesis who was traded to the Commanders.—
Rick Stroud,
Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2025
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In the wake of their latest rift, Dwight Howard has offered to hash out his differences with Shaquille O’Neal by extending an invitation to his longtime nemesis to appear on his podcast.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
8 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near affliction
Cite this Entry
“Affliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affliction. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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