Definition of AFFLICTING

Choose the Right Synonym for afflict

afflict, try, torment, torture, rack mean to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear. afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress. ills that afflict the elderly try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control. children often try their parents' patience torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance. a horse tormented by flies torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering. tortured by a sense of guilt rack stresses straining or wrenching. a body racked by pain

Examples of afflict in a Sentence

The disease afflicts an estimated two million people every year. the South was afflicted by a severe drought

Recent Examples on the Web

Sampling difficulties for Brazilian polls Polls in Brazil suffer from problems that also afflict other countries, but these problems can be accentuated because of limitations with Brazilian polls. — Ryan Lloyd, Vox, "Pollin’ ain’t easy: why did Brazilian pollsters go so badly astray in 2018?," 26 Oct. 2018 Holm himself is afflicted by a personal torment tied to the reason he’s been taken off patrol duty, which is gradually revealed. — Soren Andersen, The Seattle Times, "‘The Guilty’: Abduction drama focuses on one cop — and one riveting performance," 16 Oct. 2018 But his administration has fallen victim to a problem that afflicted the Obama administration before it — slow first quarters that helped keep annual economic growth below 3%. — Jim Puzzanghera, latimes.com, "U.S. economic growth slows despite Trump's tax cuts," 27 Apr. 2018 During her two-hour visit, Trump was given a presentation about neonatal abstinence syndrome, the collection of health problems that often afflict babies born dependent on or addicted to opioids or heroin. — Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati.com, "See what Melania Trump was wearing when she visited Cincinnati," 6 Feb. 2018 Mixed reviews, for instance, have afflicted the outlook this year for Electronic Arts EA 1.51% and Activision Blizzard , ATVI -1.83% the two largest publishers. — Dan Gallagher, WSJ, "‘Fortnite’ Effect: The Game Never Ends," 15 Feb. 2019 Google was briefly afflicted in 2015 when an Indian provider stumbled. — Frank Bajak, The Seattle Times, "Nigerian ISP’s configuration error disrupted Google services," 14 Nov. 2018 Like the author, too, he is afflicted with a permanent sense of semi-exile. — New York Times, "Struggling to Love, Work and Do the Right Thing in Putin’s Russia," 9 July 2018 In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked Hamilton County sixth of all U.S. counties most afflicted by syphilis. — Anne Saker, Cincinnati.com, "Syphilis in Cincinnati: Infections rising again as Hamilton County warns on social media," 16 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'afflict.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for afflict

Middle English afflihten "to excite, become distressed," probably verbal derivative of affliht, aflyght "disturbed, upset," borrowed from Latin afflīctus, past participle of afflīgere "to knock or strike down, ruin, distress severely," from ad- ad- + flīgere "to strike down" — more at profligate entry 1

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