Synonyms of affliction

affliction

noun

ə-ˈflik-shən 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• distress
• agony
• misery
• pain
• anguish
• discomfort
• torment
• tribulation
• torture
• woe
• sorrow
• excruciation
• hurt
• travail
• pang
• sadness
• hardship
• rack
• difficulty
• strait(s)
• heartbreak
• trouble
• danger
• unhappiness
• emergency
• heartache
• ache
• crucible
• cross
• joylessness
• trial
• soreness
• jeopardy
• stitch
• twinge
• pinch
• rigor
• asperity
• throe
• smarting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• comfort
• relief
• consolation
• solace
• alleviation
• ease
• security
• peace
• assuagement
• well-being

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sorrow
• anguish
• grief
• heartbreak
• agony
• pain
• heartache
• suffering
• woe
• guilt
• sorrowfulness
• distress
• misery
• dolor
• melancholy
• depression
• remorse
• despair
• torment
• shame
• sorriness
• oppression
• regret
• unhappiness
• wretchedness
• dejection
• dolefulness
• gloom
• blues
• gloominess
• dreariness
• melancholia
• despondency
• miserableness
• joylessness
• heartsickness
• glumness
• desolation
• contrition
• dumps
• doldrums
• forlornness
• downheartedness
• despondence
• desolateness
• rue
• self-reproach
• woefulness
• disconsolateness
• blue devils
• self-pity
• dispiritedness
• mopes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• joy
• pleasure
• cheerfulness
• ecstasy
• happiness
• rapture
• delight
• exultation
• bliss
• glee
• elation
• gladness
• exuberance
• blessedness
• euphoria
• felicity
• joyousness
• joyfulness
• jubilation
• mirth
• exhilaration
• cheeriness
• cheer
• humor
• merriment
• gayness
• gaiety
• merrymaking
• optimism
• jollity
• joviality
• blissfulness
• gleefulness
• lightheartedness
• enjoyment
• hopefulness
• elatedness
• mirthfulness
• rapturousness
• gladsomeness
• content
• contentment
• sunniness
• contentedness

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• curse
• nemesis
• bane
• threat
• scourge
• menace
• danger
• hazard
• risk
• peril
• trouble
• jinx
• hex
• pitfall
• snag
• catch
• hoodoo
• booby trap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• benefit
• assistance
• relief
• support
• aid
• blessing
• advantage
• gift
• good
• help
• comfort
• felicity
• windfall
• boon
• joy
• godsend
• pleasure
• manna
• protection
• delight
• safety
• consolation
• security
• defense
• solace
• shield
• armor
• guard
• safeguard

4

as in demon

a source of persistent emotional distress

suffered from afflictions that only a professional therapist could deal with

Synonyms & Similar Words

• demon
• torment
• terror
• hang-up
• bête noire
• bugaboo
• bugbear
• ogre
• bogey
• hobgoblin

5

as in injury

something that causes loss or pain

cronyism and corruption are afflictions on the body politic

Synonyms & Similar Words

• injury
• harm
• damage
• detriment
• hurt
• injustice
• disability
• crippling
• indignity
• impairment
• insult
• disfigurement
• affront
• mayhem
• mutilation
• outrage
• lesion
• disservice
• wound
• disablement
• swelling
• wrong
• dart
• beating
• abrasion
• rupture
• offense
• defacement
• strain
• contusion
• scar
• bruise
• burn
• laceration
• scald
• gash
• scratch
• concussion
• sear
• scathe
• chafe
• boo-boo
• bump
• scrape
• cut

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recovery
• healing
• remedy
• cure
• fix

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of affliction

But the payoff, Zehnder argues, could be potential cures for our afflictions drawn from the great tree of life. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 13 July 2026

People commonly used tobacco to treat many ailments, including indigestion, respiratory problems, pain and loathsome mouth afflictions. — Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026

That combination — some sonic nostalgia mixed with an affliction for lyrical pop — helped make the track the biggest British single of 2024. — ABC News, 18 June 2026

Nilsson admits to suffering from horror vacui—a fear of empty space, which in her case reads less like a neurotic affliction than like compulsive conviviality. — Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026