afflict

verb

af·​flict ə-ˈflikt How to pronounce afflict (audio)
afflicted; afflicting; afflicts

transitive verb

1
a
: to cause pain or suffering to : to distress so severely as to cause persistent suffering or anguish
people afflicted with arthritis
a region afflicted by hunger and poverty
2
obsolete
a
: humble
b
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Protectionists presented tariffs as the essential policy to quicken the development of manufactures as well as a remedy to the social ills that afflicted the emerging industrial working class. Made By History, Time, 28 Apr. 2025 But the malady afflicting much of the Dodgers lineup seems to have infected the third baseman with a particularly virulent strain. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025 Henry, afflicted by a psychic link to the monsters behind the veil of the Stranger Things universe, has to go into writhing, spitting paroxysms at least once every 20 minutes or so. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025 The novel drug-delivery method that breaches the blood-brain barrier could be usedto treat a host of diseases that afflict millions — like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and a deadly condition associated with cancer. Kale Williams, Axios, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for afflict

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of afflict was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Afflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/afflict. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

afflict

verb
af·​flict ə-ˈflikt How to pronounce afflict (audio)
: to cause suffering or unhappiness to

More from Merriam-Webster on afflict

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