1
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
she listened with deep affliction as her daughter told her about the latest trouble she was in
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sorrow
deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved
felt such great affliction over the destruction of the beautiful old home
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3
as in curse
a source of harm or misfortune
alcohol has been his affliction ever since he took his first drink at the age of 12
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in injury
something that causes loss or pain
cronyism and corruption are afflictions on the body politic
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of affliction
This affliction is ultimately among the most common causes of death for former bile bears, as the years of cruelty can never be fully erased.
—
Ryley Graham, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2025
Bruno Fernandes suffers from a similar affliction, taking more shots per 90 than both Zirkzee and Højlund (2.66) but from worse locations (like Garnacho, just 0.09 xG per shot).
—Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Freedom, and the afflictions of poverty and inequality, weighed heavily on the minds of Rancho Bernardo and Poway residents during the past couple of weeks.
—Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
This affliction largely evaporated with the passage of the 2017 tax law.
—William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affliction
Ryley Graham, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2025
Bruno Fernandes suffers from a similar affliction, taking more shots per 90 than both Zirkzee and Højlund (2.66) but from worse locations (like Garnacho, just 0.09 xG per shot).
—Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Freedom, and the afflictions of poverty and inequality, weighed heavily on the minds of Rancho Bernardo and Poway residents during the past couple of weeks.
—Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
This affliction largely evaporated with the passage of the 2017 tax law.
—William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affliction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affliction
Noun
-
Brown said a bite from a lone star tick can trigger an allergic reaction, with symptoms including hives, gastrointestinal distress and potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis.—
State House News Service,
Boston Herald,
13 July 2025
-
Tiffany had shown no indication of being depressed or in emotional distress.—
Alex Gurley,
People.com,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett also condemned the shooting and expressed his sorrow for the parents of the victims.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 July 2025
-
We are filled with unbearable sorrow and despair at our loss.—
Aaron Valdez,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
Ancient 'pharaoh's curse' fungus shows promise in killing cancer cells.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2025
-
The song breaks Booth's life-defining generational curse.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
It was emptied of us and, therefore, full of dunes and demons, bogs and bleeding trees.—
Devon Walker-Figueroa,
The New York Review of Books,
3 July 2025
-
Things become messy when a popular rival boy band – The Saja Boys – are revealed to be demons.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Since going down with Covid-19 during Women’s Euro 2022, a succession of injuries have limited Miedema’s international appearances.—
Asif Burhan,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Samir had been shot in the back, and died of his injuries, Police Chief Todd Bettison said.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
Meanwhile, Joseph writhes in the agony of his own newfound girl craziness (and cleavage obsession).—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
7 July 2025
-
Williams was never offered any other clear pathway to finding relief—even as the agony from her fibroids was getting worse.—
Kayla Greaves,
SELF,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
But the first lady and I are here in Texas to express the love and support and the anguish of our entire nation in the aftermath of this really horrific and deadly flood.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
11 July 2025
-
Ming-Na Wen Tapped Into Deep Emotions To Play Dr. Fong In ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ While Ming-Na Wen doesn’t throw a punch in Karate Kid: Legends, that doesn’t mean her character hasn’t been in past battles, particularly those dealing with mental anguish.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Noun
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Alabama as the nemesis, from the Blackout game to the 2012 SEC championship, to second-and-26, then finally beating Alabama after Kelee Ringo’s pick-six … only to lose twice more to the Crimson Tide.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
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Superman’s nemesis, Lex Luthor, played with quicksilver menace by Nicholas Hoult, is now a fascist tech billionaire — the CEO of LutherCorp — who has his tentacles everywhere: in industry, the U.S. government, and foreign nations.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Affliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affliction. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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