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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in injury
something that causes loss or pain
cronyism and corruption are afflictions on the body politic
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 affliction
An offense built on length has been ravaged by injuries and some sort of affliction that has the Mets regularly hitting the ball into the ground instead of in the air.
—
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
Even as Steph Curry missed two months with persistent knee soreness and swelling, as Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler were lost for the year with knee injuries, as the team trotted out 41 different starting lineups as other members of the supporting cast dealt with various afflictions.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
Fans took this to mean that Muniz was suffering from a serious health affliction — but the actor now insists that people have it all wrong.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
But those maladies have nothing against the ones presented in this list—six afflictions that many of us have come to know all too well.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for affliction
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
Even as Steph Curry missed two months with persistent knee soreness and swelling, as Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler were lost for the year with knee injuries, as the team trotted out 41 different starting lineups as other members of the supporting cast dealt with various afflictions.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
Fans took this to mean that Muniz was suffering from a serious health affliction — but the actor now insists that people have it all wrong.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
But those maladies have nothing against the ones presented in this list—six afflictions that many of us have come to know all too well.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for affliction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affliction
Noun
-
There was a stretch when people in various states of mental distress would just come and fall apart at our kitchen table.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
The Iskanders sued Grossman and Erickson, and last week a jury found the pair liable in the boys’ deaths, awarding $176 million in damages to parents Nancy and Karim Iskander and younger son Zachary for wrongful death and emotional distress.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Amidst the sorrow of the past eight years, Ronnie and Lydia vowed to never stop searching for their granddaughter.—
James C Ramos,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 May 2026
-
Officials have shared their sorrow and paid tribute to the victims of the accident.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Chants laced with curses echo through Madison Square Garden.—
Albert Samaha,
Washington Post,
3 June 2026
-
Courtside seats at Madison Square Garden for Games 3 and 4 will be the most expensive tickets in NBA history as the Knicks try to end their 53-year championship curse against the greatest physical force ever in basketball.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The demon was largely limited to one expression — smugness — and was inexplicably the only character who spoke Japanese.—
Corbin Bolies,
Variety,
10 June 2026
-
Still, 51-year-old Rhys didn’t take Nile’s demons or Tom’s supernatural burden home.—
Emma Fraser,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Vegas played much of the night without center William Karlsson, who was being checked out on the bench for an apparent upper-body injury.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
Firefighters contained all four fires reported in the area, and no structures were damaged and no injuries were reported.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Tony was in agony and there was a lot of blood.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
-
Jack Grealish had rolled on the floor in agony.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Lost in the Brazilian tears, anguish and confusion was just how clinical the Germans had been.—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
Bardem is captivating and formidable, grinning with maniacal glee at his every act of depravity and the fear and anguish of his victims.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Often mislabelled as Superman's nemesis, Lobo is more correctly a member of the Man of Steel's Rogues Gallery, but often crosses the line as his violent interactions see fit.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
6 June 2026
-
Is dish soap the ultimate cast-iron skillet nemesis?—
Katherine McLaughlin,
Architectural Digest,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Affliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affliction. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
