as in troubled
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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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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
Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Identifying Black Spot Roses can be afflicted by several common plant diseases.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026
But all hope is not lost for the mosquito-afflicted.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
Their presence has revitalized towns historically afflicted by the woes of the boom-and-bust cycles of the oil and gas industry.
—Ernesto Sagás, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Bruce established the nonprofit organization the Lenny Bruce Memorial Foundation in 2008, dedicated to providing lifesaving scholarships for individuals afflicted with substance use disorder.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 22 May 2026
For instance, if your potatoes and tomatoes are afflicted with black spot, don't plant your rose in the vegetable garden.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 May 2026
Nelson’s grandmother was afflicted with dementia at the time of first reading the novel while Miller Rogen’s mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at just 55 years old.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Some babies died, and several of those who survived were afflicted with infections or long-term health problems, their mothers said.
—Abigail Brooks, NBC news, 13 May 2026
Adjective
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
Verb
Losses from cattle afflicted by the parasite could run into the billions of dollars, with larger effects across the American economy, according to USDA estimates.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Identifying Black Spot Roses can be afflicted by several common plant diseases.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026
But all hope is not lost for the mosquito-afflicted.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
Their presence has revitalized towns historically afflicted by the woes of the boom-and-bust cycles of the oil and gas industry.
—Ernesto Sagás, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Bruce established the nonprofit organization the Lenny Bruce Memorial Foundation in 2008, dedicated to providing lifesaving scholarships for individuals afflicted with substance use disorder.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 22 May 2026
For instance, if your potatoes and tomatoes are afflicted with black spot, don't plant your rose in the vegetable garden.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 May 2026
Nelson’s grandmother was afflicted with dementia at the time of first reading the novel while Miller Rogen’s mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at just 55 years old.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Some babies died, and several of those who survived were afflicted with infections or long-term health problems, their mothers said.
—Abigail Brooks, NBC news, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflicted
Adjective
-
The move is politically controversial due to Armenia’s troubled past with the two powers, but the opposition remained too fractured and scarred by association with past corruption to put up a considerable fight.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2026
-
Beyond those posts, however, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution discovered a complicated and, at times, troubled history for both the clinic and its co-founder.—
Carrie Teegardin,
AJC.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
The new officers will take their leadership positions amid strength in Tyson Foods’ chicken and prepared foods segments, while the beef segment has been plagued by multi-million dollar operating losses.—
Dylan Sherman,
Arkansas Online,
8 June 2026
-
In Seasons 1-4, that vicar is Sidney Chambers (James Norton), a jazz enthusiast plagued by memories of WWII who offers unsolicited insights to gruff and initially ungrateful Det.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
The Lieser family of Jewish industrialists was persecuted by the Nazis, including being imprisoned, and lost almost all their possessions to Nazi seizure.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
5 June 2026
-
Family members and friends were persecuted, arrested, and killed.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Getting that exemption will be more difficult than most people had expected, meaning that more sick and disabled people are likely to lose their Medicaid coverage.—
Tara Bannow,
STAT,
3 June 2026
-
There are special additional rules for households with elderly or disabled members.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Armand tortured and planned to drain Daniel, but Louis stepped in to save him.—
Tiffany Kelly,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 June 2026
-
The story of Alabama's congressional map is long and tortured.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
The Rock People were a feeble attempt to cash in on the shapeshifting craze, as Stonedar, Rokkon, and Granita (the latter never immortalized as an action figure) could turn themselves into… er, meteors.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
4 June 2026
-
The manner the ball traveled from Maradona suggested a feebler contact than a pure header.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Tony season in New York is a veritable marathon for theater-folk, who are besieged by invites to countless classy events in succession.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
7 June 2026
-
Some time later, however, King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered his entire army and besieged Samaria.—
Helaine Williams,
Arkansas Online,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Earlier this month, Nancy Guthrie, the elderly and infirm mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was violently taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The four Democratic members of the JBC, which controls the state budget, asked with growing consternation why the Department of Corrections hadn’t brought them a plan to address overcrowding, to step up releases of old and infirm inmates, or to improve its own shortcomings.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Afflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflicted. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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