afflicted 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of afflictednext
as in troubled

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afflicted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of afflict
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of afflicted
Adjective
Some of the bikers pouring into the area are coming from distant states far more afflicted. — CBS News, 10 Aug. 2020
Verb
The afflicted slowly lose their ability to walk, talk, eat, dress, write, swallow and, eventually, breathe. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 Jude, meanwhile, was shifting from tossing cones to tugging at his ears, afflicted with the same malady that had landed several of the toddlers on the room’s version of the injury list. — ABC News, 30 June 2026 They are both afflicted by cognitive and/or hearing issues. — Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2026 Two-thirds of respondents afflicted with alpha-gal reported anxiety or depressive disorders in a 2025 University of Missouri survey. — CBS News, 19 June 2026 Examples include assisting the blind, providing alerts of sounds to the deaf, assisting those afflicted by seizures, retrieving items, providing physical support, and helping those with psychiatric or neurological disabilities. — Shari Wald Garrett, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026 Raspberries are also afflicted with several viruses that can cause plants to decline and ruin the fruit. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 June 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflicted
  1. troubled
  2. plagued
  3. disabled
  4. persecuted
  5. feeble
  6. tortured
  7. infirm
  8. besieged
Adjective
  • But the real anger belongs to the narrator herself, who berates herself for bringing a succession of troubled men into her son’s life.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 July 2026
  • There’s also room to more deeply explore Queen Gertrude (Jodi Gage)’s role in the palace intrigue and her troubled relationship with her son.
    — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026
Definition of troubled
Verb
  • Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey follows the incredible journey of King Odysseus back to his kingdom of Ithaca, plagued by mythical perils along the way.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 13 July 2026
  • That’s a far cry from the financial troubles that plagued the club more than two decades ago.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of plagued
Adjective
  • Robinovitz recommended slime to Schiller, whose husband had a severe stroke that had left him disabled.
    — Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2026
  • Two mothers caring for their disabled sons now face losing their homes.
    — Tara Bannow, STAT, 13 July 2026
Definition of disabled
Verb
  • The Washington Principles also recognize that many sales of artwork by Jews during the Nazi era occurred while they were being persecuted, or under duress.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026
  • Representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine have been persecuted.
    — Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of persecuted
Adjective
  • Lei's team propose that this glitch either strengthened or reoriented, or both, the magnetic field of the Blue Eye Pulsar sufficiently to trigger radio emissions, or at least make feeble radio waves that were already there detectable.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 6 July 2026
  • Gin up such a feeble procedural explanation for the sudden reversal that the entire sporting globe becomes incensed over the garbage-y scent of an inside job.
    — Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026
Definition of feeble
Verb
  • Walker was abducted, raped, tortured and murdered after attending a Valentine’s Day dance with her boyfriend.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • The actual abduction was committed, according to the feds, by supermarket owner Abu Chowdhury — who’s accused of heading a kidnapping ring that also snatched and tortured two men who crossed his vengeful wife, Iffat Lubna.
    — John Annese, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026
Definition of tortured
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
Definition of infirm
Verb
  • After word spread that a local attorney was starting a class action, residents said they were besieged by out-of-town lawyers competing aggressively for their business.
    — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
  • Boston was besieged by the Tartan Army.
    — Becky Sullivan, NPR, 28 June 2026
Definition of besieged

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Cite this Entry

“Afflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflicted. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on afflicted

Nglish: Translation of afflicted for Spanish Speakers

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