1
as in distresses
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 curses
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
3
as in demons
a source of persistent emotional distress
suffered from afflictions that only a professional therapist could deal with
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in injuries
something that causes loss or pain
cronyism and corruption are afflictions on the body politic
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of afflictions
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
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
Deprived of the Sun, Australians acquire afflictions more commonly associated with northern Scandinavia, like vitamin D deficiencies and seasonal affective disorder, only all year-round.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Chibale knew that this wasn't the case in Africa, a continent that struggles with its own afflictions, alongside limited funding, infrastructure and technical know-how.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 Mar. 2026
None of these afflictions are exclusive to older moms, but age is a big factor in how serious both are.
—Heather Grossmann, Parents, 11 Mar. 2026
Ancient foes Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis are centuries-old afflictions.
—Philip Budge, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026
And then, these afflictions can lead to a life-or-death struggle.
—Jayme Moye, Outside, 5 Mar. 2026
According to Champ, a glass mosaic will suffer from these afflictions with the double whammy of making your kitchen also appear outdated.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 12 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
Deprived of the Sun, Australians acquire afflictions more commonly associated with northern Scandinavia, like vitamin D deficiencies and seasonal affective disorder, only all year-round.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Chibale knew that this wasn't the case in Africa, a continent that struggles with its own afflictions, alongside limited funding, infrastructure and technical know-how.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 Mar. 2026
None of these afflictions are exclusive to older moms, but age is a big factor in how serious both are.
—Heather Grossmann, Parents, 11 Mar. 2026
Ancient foes Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis are centuries-old afflictions.
—Philip Budge, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026
And then, these afflictions can lead to a life-or-death struggle.
—Jayme Moye, Outside, 5 Mar. 2026
According to Champ, a glass mosaic will suffer from these afflictions with the double whammy of making your kitchen also appear outdated.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflictions
Noun
-
There are still deliveries of hate mail from conservative neighbors who disapprove of their lifestyle, and occasional drive-bys punctuated with curses yelled from car windows, but they’ve largely been accepted by the community.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Pay multiple people from the crafts site Etsy to perform tarot readings, lift any existing curses and otherwise engage in witchcraft.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The next chapter played well for the crowd at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace Hotel and Casino — introducing a new cast with some familiar chills and demons.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2026
-
But at this event, there was no Bobby, and there was no talk of lifelong demons.—
Jill Smolowe,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
No other injuries were reported in the incident.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The 6-foot-7 forward hadn’t played more than 66 games in a season during his first three years in the NBA, often beset by nagging or unlucky injuries.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Grandmother explains how each plant helps humans ease aches and pains, as well as offering good foods like honey from the bees that drink from plants.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
12 Apr. 2026
-
But the problem with utilitarianism is that just as the subjective, first-person experiences of sensory perceptions cannot be compared among individuals, neither can pleasures and pains.—
George G. Szpiro,
Big Think,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Court records show a trail of threats preceded Tiffany Woods’ death.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
-
But internal threats to the show are one thing, and Lorne Michaels is flawed and complicated in ways that not even some of his long-time collaborators will ever see for themselves.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And there will surely be a cascade of tears and terrors in-between.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Still, Levack’s film offers terrors and troubles of a different stripe.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Mediators are pushing for a compromise on three main sticking points that derailed direct talks last weekend — Iran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for wartime damages, according to a regional official involved in the mediation efforts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The judge in the case will now determine the total damages amount and penalties, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office, which was part of the lawsuit.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And yet, in the scene on the Hill of Love, Lapid offers no self-questioning, no sense of cinematic exertion or trouble, in the fictional framing of the real agonies of Gaza.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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The celebrated poet and memoirist, delves into the agonies of her decision and describes the emerging women’s liberation movement, of which Moore would soon become a participant.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Afflictions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflictions. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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