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
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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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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
-
Buildings continue to fall into economic distress because of government’s housing policies.—
Alva Badillo,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2025
-
In line with these ideas, researchers published findings in 2023 that showed that meditation increased people’s concern for the suffering of others—and that, by comparison, people without this practice were more oriented to their own distress.—
Mariah G. Schug,
Scientific American,
27 June 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
-
The song breaks Booth's life-defining generational curse.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
-
Ancient 'pharaoh's curse' fungus shows promise in killing cancer cells.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2025
Noun
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The only survivor is his youngest sister Nezuko, who has been turned into a demon herself.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
28 June 2025
-
Hero Tanjiro Kamado, a boy who joined the Demon Slayer Corps after his younger sister Nezuko was transformed into a demon, finds himself and his Demon Slayer comrades inside the demons’ stronghold – the Infinity Castle, where the scene is set for the final battle between Corps and demons.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
28 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
-
To date, Operation UNITED has resulted in 33 positive identifications of people whose disappearance had left family members in anguish.—
Michael Kaplan,
CBS News,
16 June 2025
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Even so, the movie’s forceful visual shocks (executed mostly with practical effects) are easier to bear than its restlessly mounting anguish.—
Jeannette Catsoulis,
New York Times,
29 May 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 16 Jul. 2025.
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