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 of affliction

• 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

His calm authority, wit, and quiet moral certainty is challenged by escalating reports of a mysterious affliction hitting the inhabitants of New York and beyond. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2026

Harsh planetary afflictions give couples a goal to work towards, keeping the dynamic interesting. —Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026

Jokic can be notoriously stubborn about playing through minor afflictions, but his stats on Friday backed up his postgame testimony that his knee felt good. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2026

Leading the list of afflictions are unprecedented levels of loneliness, depression, and cognitive decline. —Tristan Bove, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026

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