affliction

noun

af·​flic·​tion ə-ˈflik-shən 

1

: a cause of persistent pain or distress

a mysterious affliction

2

: great suffering

felt empathy with their affliction

3

: the state of being afflicted by something that causes suffering

her affliction with polio

Synonyms

• distress
• agony
• misery
• pain
• anguish
• discomfort

Examples of affliction in a Sentence

She lost her sight and is now learning to live with her affliction.

He died from a mysterious affliction.

Recent Examples on the Web

City officials say that’s a somewhat encouraging sign as the city struggles to address a yearslong lifeguard shortage — a common affliction among parks departments across the country. —Alyce McFadden, New York Times, 25 May 2025

Doctors with experience treating such ailments reportedly said patients can suffer permanent damage from those afflictions. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 13 May 2025

This is when the film takes a turn for the paranormal, with Uma’s affliction — and its nastier nighttime expressions — serving as a metaphor for her discontents. —Natalia Winkelman, New York Times, 15 May 2025

Notably, the author draws a distinction between loneliness and solitude, with latter being a personal choice and not an affliction. —Michael Peregrine, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English affliccioun "misery, distress, self-inflicted pain," borrowed from Anglo-French afflicion, borrowed from Late Latin afflīctiōn-, afflīctiō, from Latin afflīgere "to afflict" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for affliction

• addiction
• constriction
• conviction
• depiction
• eviction
• infliction
• nonfiction
• prediction
• restriction
• antifriction
• benediction
• contradiction

Kids Definition

affliction

noun

af·​flic·​tion ə-ˈflik-shən 

1

: the state of being afflicted

2

: something that causes pain or unhappiness