as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
the afflicting sight of so many earthquake victims was too much even for some hardened rescue workers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in plaguing
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
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Recent Examples of afflicting
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Their bread-and-butter is comforting the most comfortable by afflicting the most afflicted.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Osula is out with a foot injury which has been afflicting him for most of the season.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Other geopolitical threats afflicting OPEC+ nations continue to simmer.
—Grant Smith, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2026
The Canadian national conscience is rightly troubled by the serious social problems afflicting Indigenous Canada.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2025
Petek and others have warned about the possibility of a serious recession afflicting the national economy which would exacerbate the budget’s imbalance and strain California’s emergency reserves, which have already been tapped to cover shortfalls.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 20 Dec. 2025
No matter how much Nino may try to detach their devotion for one another from the problems afflicting Lebanon, the turmoil seeps into their home, proving that even the most personal choices are inevitably tied to larger forces.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 4 Dec. 2025
Cohen excels at describing the existential aimlessness afflicting young men set loose upon the world after completing their compulsory military service.
—Andrew Ridker, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
But the overlap with unusually frigid temperatures afflicting Florida's Space Coast and the rest of the country have turned Crew-12's launch opportunities into an intricate dance around Artemis 2.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Their bread-and-butter is comforting the most comfortable by afflicting the most afflicted.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Osula is out with a foot injury which has been afflicting him for most of the season.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Other geopolitical threats afflicting OPEC+ nations continue to simmer.
—Grant Smith, Fortune, 4 Jan. 2026
The Canadian national conscience is rightly troubled by the serious social problems afflicting Indigenous Canada.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2025
Petek and others have warned about the possibility of a serious recession afflicting the national economy which would exacerbate the budget’s imbalance and strain California’s emergency reserves, which have already been tapped to cover shortfalls.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 20 Dec. 2025
No matter how much Nino may try to detach their devotion for one another from the problems afflicting Lebanon, the turmoil seeps into their home, proving that even the most personal choices are inevitably tied to larger forces.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 4 Dec. 2025
Cohen excels at describing the existential aimlessness afflicting young men set loose upon the world after completing their compulsory military service.
—Andrew Ridker, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflicting
Adjective
-
Four years later, at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, Gabrielle Daleman could only bury her face in her hands after the Canadian’s disappointing free skate, her painful reaction beamed to a global audience.—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
As painful as this pain deep in the heart is, the healing has already begun with all the outpouring of love, prayers, and support.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even cursory nods to the pandemic as the root cause of neighbors turning against neighbors aren’t explored so much as they’re acknowledged, as if viewers are somehow unaware of the polarization plaguing America.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The House passed a bipartisan housing bill that would enact new policies to boost housing supply and ease the affordability crisis plaguing the nation.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Prosecutors say the defendant failed to take into account his girlfriend’s inexperience in mountain climbing as well as the harsh winter conditions.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Bathroom Fixtures There are no harsh or abrasive chemicals involved in steam cleaning bathroom fixtures.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But so often left unsaid by Gu are the moral ambiguities that come with choosing to represent a country that has been heavily criticized by Human Rights Watch, among other watchdog groups, for denying rights of freedom of expression and for persecuting government critics.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Troops are occupying our cities and persecuting our people.—
Maria Guinnip,
Oklahoman,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Said quest forces her to reexamine a revelatory affair with an RAF pilot, and consider how their engagement’s cruel ending set her on the path to a different sort of fulfillment.—
Hayley Maitland,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Government should tame the savageness of man and make life in this world more gentle, not crueler.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Afflicting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflicting. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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