as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to
the South was afflicted by a severe drought he's been afflicted by nightmares ever since the accident
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as in troubled
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Recent Examples of afflicted
David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 12 June 2022
For nearly five years, the lingering hope of the pundit class (and, notably, the Biden campaign) was that the Trump fever would eventually burn itself out and those so afflicted would awake from its throes eager to be normal again.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 6 Jan. 2022
Regarding Cuba now, there seems to be an additional Russian objective: weakening U.S. and Canadian intelligence on the island by forcing the evacuation of afflicted spies and diplomatic personnel.
—Néstor T. Carbonell, National Review, 12 Apr. 2021
Some of the bikers pouring into the area are coming from distant states far more afflicted.
—CBS News, 10 Aug. 2020
Kroger officials said McMullen had planned to remove his mask for the event, which was not attended by Pence's afflicted press secretary Katie Miller who stayed in Washington.
—Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati.com, 11 May 2020
Symptoms of the illness are similar to pneumonia, although videos have been posted that purportedly show afflicted people collapsing on the street, bleeding from their mouths, and being treated by doctors wearing hazmat suits.
—Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, 25 Jan. 2020
Mealy bugs can be a real problem, not just for the afflicted plant but for neighboring, healthy houseplants.
—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2019
Making a compelling financial case to fight climate change and to help the most afflicted demands a rigorous accounting of its effects.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 9 Oct. 2018
Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025
Unfortunately, this fresh ailment has afflicted him for the majority of his 2024-25 run.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
The 73-year-old woman’s husband, who is afflicted with dementia and uses a wheelchair, was not able to help, and Echelbarger succumbed to her injuries.
—Laura Barcella, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Most of the United States’ Northeastern states would be among the more afflicted, as would be the Great Lakes region.
—Katharina Buchholz, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
In a state and city so afflicted by the culture of corruption, as the Tribune reported exhaustively last year in a series of pieces tracing our sordid history, federal prosecutors have played an indispensable role in unearthing these stories and making our politicians pay for abusing their offices.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
For several reasons, women tend to be most afflicted.
—Stacey Colino, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
In pulling off the balance between the morbid premise and the humanity of the character afflicted by it, director Rashida Jones relies on Erivo’s ability to get across the panic and dread of the situation with the subtlest of brush strokes.
—Sezin Koehler, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2025
This, in turn, led to waves of protest and a series of arsons that afflicted 24 churches over the next two years.
—The Editors, National Review, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
The afflicted man instead went to a Dawson hospital, where he was fed only raw potatoes and charged $10 a day for the privilege.
—David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 12 June 2022
For nearly five years, the lingering hope of the pundit class (and, notably, the Biden campaign) was that the Trump fever would eventually burn itself out and those so afflicted would awake from its throes eager to be normal again.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 6 Jan. 2022
Regarding Cuba now, there seems to be an additional Russian objective: weakening U.S. and Canadian intelligence on the island by forcing the evacuation of afflicted spies and diplomatic personnel.
—Néstor T. Carbonell, National Review, 12 Apr. 2021
Some of the bikers pouring into the area are coming from distant states far more afflicted.
—CBS News, 10 Aug. 2020
Kroger officials said McMullen had planned to remove his mask for the event, which was not attended by Pence's afflicted press secretary Katie Miller who stayed in Washington.
—Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati.com, 11 May 2020
Symptoms of the illness are similar to pneumonia, although videos have been posted that purportedly show afflicted people collapsing on the street, bleeding from their mouths, and being treated by doctors wearing hazmat suits.
—Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, 25 Jan. 2020
Mealy bugs can be a real problem, not just for the afflicted plant but for neighboring, healthy houseplants.
—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2019
Making a compelling financial case to fight climate change and to help the most afflicted demands a rigorous accounting of its effects.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 9 Oct. 2018
Adjective
Ringo was yellow submarines and octopus gardens, the mascot little brother, despite being the eldest Beatle, and the best at flittering above the feuds that afflicted the trio of geniuses around him.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025
Unfortunately, this fresh ailment has afflicted him for the majority of his 2024-25 run.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
The 73-year-old woman’s husband, who is afflicted with dementia and uses a wheelchair, was not able to help, and Echelbarger succumbed to her injuries.
—Laura Barcella, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Most of the United States’ Northeastern states would be among the more afflicted, as would be the Great Lakes region.
—Katharina Buchholz, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
In a state and city so afflicted by the culture of corruption, as the Tribune reported exhaustively last year in a series of pieces tracing our sordid history, federal prosecutors have played an indispensable role in unearthing these stories and making our politicians pay for abusing their offices.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
For several reasons, women tend to be most afflicted.
—Stacey Colino, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
In pulling off the balance between the morbid premise and the humanity of the character afflicted by it, director Rashida Jones relies on Erivo’s ability to get across the panic and dread of the situation with the subtlest of brush strokes.
—Sezin Koehler, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2025
This, in turn, led to waves of protest and a series of arsons that afflicted 24 churches over the next two years.
—The Editors, National Review, 28 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflicted
Adjective
-
Tennessee State University finalized an agreement with the state to reallocate $96 million to address the university's immediate financial needs on June 17 — something university leaders hailed as pivotal in stabilizing the school's troubled finances.—
Rachel Wegner,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
-
With multiple open betas and a long, troubled development history, it’s taken a good while for the game to find its feet, but Mecha Break is now finally available to play on general release.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
People like my disabled adult son David, who needs 24/7 support.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2025
-
Josh is a disabled infantry combat veteran who brings fresh takes to genre series like sci-fi drama series Day 5 from El Rey Network and historical western Elkhorn on INSP.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
In recent months, the Kennedy Center has been besieged by performance cancelations both voluntary and involuntary.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2025
-
At the start of the invasion, Russian troops besieged the city, forcing residents to endure harsh winter conditions without electricity or water under constant shelling from Russian artillery, missiles and drones.—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Leon Goretzka intercepted a feeble Pulgar clearance about 25 yards from goal and rather than close out to him, three Flamengo players decided to block off the corner of the net to the left of goalkeeper Agustin Rossi.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
29 June 2025
-
First appearing in Street Fighter Alpha in 1995, Hibiki is consistently portrayed as an overconfident, arrogant and utterly feeble character.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
No longer the beloved Renaissance prince of his youth, Henry was, by his mid-40s, an increasingly infirm and mercurial monarch who had few qualms about sending his closest companions—among them the aforementioned Thomas More—to the executioner’s block.—
Meilan Solly,
Smithsonian Magazine,
20 Mar. 2025
-
They’re designed for Americans that are struggling, that are below the poverty line, or that are infirm, that can’t work and afford health care.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Wood chips can be used as mulch for flower beds, but make sure to dispose of any debris from diseased trees rather than mulching to avoid spreading diseases around your property.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
27 June 2025
-
These scenes render heterosexual desire as a shallow, diseased endeavor.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
Decades later, an increasingly erratic and incapacitated C.F. railed against his three sons’ attempts to take over Seabrook Farms.—
Heller McAlpin,
Christian Science Monitor,
3 June 2025
-
For his part, Russell isn’t going for embodying just another big-screen bad guy, but rather an intriguing and respected citizen on the surface here with a beloved dog and an incapacitated wife who will figure into Kateri’s plans.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Beneath several sickly banana trees sat a man in tired corduroy pants and worn blue Skechers.—
Pete McKenzie,
Harpers Magazine,
18 June 2025
-
As a sickly boy raised by two women, young Darin was smothered with affection.—
Jordan Runtagh,
People.com,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflicted. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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