affliction

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noun af·flic·tion \ ə-ˈflik-shən \

Definition of affliction

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

See affliction defined for English-language learners

See affliction defined for kids

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 of affliction from the Web

The affliction is typically triggered after experiencing or witnessing violence, including assault and abuse.

— william wan, Washington Post, "Ecstasy could be ‘breakthrough’ therapy for soldiers, others suffering from PTSD," 26 Aug. 2017
Whitley Hedger died in March 2015 at age 13 of DIPG, an aggressive and unbeatable brain tumor, the same pediatric affliction that killed Lawrenceburg’s Lauren Hill two months later.

— gregg doyel, Indianapolis Star, "Doyel: How a UIndy athlete made two kids 'happier than they’ve ever been'," 18 July 2017
The term is not recognized by the American Psychiatric Association, and mental health experts debate whether or not the affliction is a true phobia, with some opting more frequently to label it an idiosyncrasy, or unusual behavior. …

— chris stirewalt, Fox News, "Least surprising failure ever," 18 July 2017
Eighty-two percent of people surveyed in 2010 described eating disorders as a serious mental and physical illness, with only 12 percent dismissing them as afflictions of vanity.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "To the Bone: The Trouble With Anorexia on Film," 14 July 2017
The brains of Alice and the outdoorsmen could unlock secrets, not only about rare brain diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob, but about more common human afflictions, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

— mark johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "In tracking a lethal family of diseases that threatens humans and animals, scientists have become the hunters," 6 July 2017
Also, a growing number of scientists believe that understanding rare afflictions such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob might lead to cures for the more common diseases, such as Alzheimer's.

— mark johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "In tracking a lethal family of diseases that threatens humans and animals, scientists have become the hunters," 6 July 2017
His coinage started to catch on, thanks to those who were grateful to have a name for their affliction.

— yohana desta, HWD, "Your Guide to the “Diddy Laugh,” a Sound Effect That’s Been Driving People Crazy for Decades," 3 July 2017
The affliction was formally named in 1984 by Norman E. Rosenthal and colleagues at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

— david jefferys, Condé Nast Traveler, "Why One in Fifty Swedes Travels to Thailand Every Year," 21 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of affliction

see afflict

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First Known Use: 14th century

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affliction Synonyms

AFFLICTION Defined for English Language Learners

affliction

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noun

Definition of affliction for English Language Learners

: something (such as a disease) that causes pain or suffering
: the state of being affected by something that causes suffering

AFFLICTION Defined for Kids

affliction

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noun af·flic·tion \ ə-ˈflik-shən \

Definition of affliction for Students

1 :the state of being affected by something that causes pain or unhappiness

his affliction with polio

2 :something that causes pain or unhappiness

Chicken pox is an affliction caused by a virus.

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See words that rhyme with affliction Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for affliction Spanish Central: Translation of affliction Nglish: Translation of affliction for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of affliction for Arabic speakers

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affliction

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Examples of affliction in a Sentence

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AFFLICTION Defined for English Language Learners

affliction

Definition of affliction for English Language Learners

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affliction

Definition of affliction for Students

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