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

• agony
• anguish
• distress
• excruciation
• hurt
• misery
• pain
• rack
• strait(s)
• torment
• torture
• travail
• tribulation
• woe

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

Ron became a frequent visitor to the trapping campsite, and his many tales told ’round the fire proved more than ample to further my recent affliction. —Thomas Weddle, Outdoor Life, 17 Apr. 2025

The tight, shiny skin weeps an oily iridescence that tints the light around the woman as she twirls, evidently delighted by her affliction. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025

Fixed an issue where bare fists and kicks contributed to affliction build up. —Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025

See treasures Both afflictions can be caused by a combination of environmental factors and malnutrition, and were not altogether uncommon during the time period this toddler lived. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 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