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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of afflicting
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Never mind the economic turbulence afflicting the country and the world, driven most recently by rising gas prices because of the war in Iran.
—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
And so what was once out of bounds continued to move within the Pale, and a scourge went on afflicting politicians and groypers and, yes, comedians alike.
—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Apr. 2026
It was most recently extended in August 2024 for 18 months by the Biden administration, which cited economic, security, political and health crises afflicting the Caribbean nation.
—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Gene-drive technology might be able to make wildlife less likely to spread diseases such as the one afflicting the rabbits, or malaria.
—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
8 Apr. 2026
For Yuldosheva and her neighbors, finding their landlord is one of many problems afflicting their six-story building near Yankee Stadium.
—
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
When Pharaoh refused, God sent the 10 plagues to Egypt as punishment, destroying crops and livestock and afflicting the people, according to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
1 Apr. 2026
In some English translations the afflicting insects are lice.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
Cholera, a waterborne bacterial disease, has unleashed a perilous wave across southern Africa, with active outbreaks currently afflicting five countries in southern and central Africa.
—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Never mind the economic turbulence afflicting the country and the world, driven most recently by rising gas prices because of the war in Iran.
—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
And so what was once out of bounds continued to move within the Pale, and a scourge went on afflicting politicians and groypers and, yes, comedians alike.
—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Apr. 2026
It was most recently extended in August 2024 for 18 months by the Biden administration, which cited economic, security, political and health crises afflicting the Caribbean nation.
—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Gene-drive technology might be able to make wildlife less likely to spread diseases such as the one afflicting the rabbits, or malaria.
—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
8 Apr. 2026
For Yuldosheva and her neighbors, finding their landlord is one of many problems afflicting their six-story building near Yankee Stadium.
—
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
When Pharaoh refused, God sent the 10 plagues to Egypt as punishment, destroying crops and livestock and afflicting the people, according to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
1 Apr. 2026
In some English translations the afflicting insects are lice.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflicting
Adjective
-
And that says something painful about what my country has become, and my place in it.
-
For thousands of Venezuelans, however, the absence of definitive answers has become one of the tragedy’s most painful consequences.
Verb
-
This comes at a time when existential fiscal anxiety has been plaguing Americans.
-
The other factor that Mercedes needs to consider is that reliability issue that’s plaguing itself and its customer teams.
Adjective
-
White settlers and frontier pioneers built vast, fenceless cattle stations, battling harsh environments and disease, embracing a hard-living culture that exists to this day.
-
Dish Soap Using harsh chemicals on the outside of your toilet bowl and fixtures is not recommended, according to Meagher.
Verb
-
Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.
-
Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.
Adjective
-
The heat has become so unbearable in Japan that weather officials in April announced a new term for days when maximum temperatures exceed 104 degrees — kokushobi, meaning harsh or cruel heat, according to the Japan Times.
-
For thousands of Venezuelans, however, the lack of definitive answers has become one of the tragedy’s cruelest consequences.
Cite this Entry
“Afflicting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflicting. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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