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
4
as in injuries
something that causes loss or pain
cronyism and corruption are afflictions on the body politic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of afflictions
Neither the dangerously rampant mental health afflictions among military folk nor the dehumanization and exploitation of undocumented people have gone unexplored in American cinema.
—
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
Some of us have both of these afflictions, particularly beyond the age of 40-to-50.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 19 Aug. 2025
While untreated mental afflictions can now be addressed under state law, the same should be extended to folks suffering from addiction.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
See treasures Both afflictions can be caused by a combination of environmental factors and malnutrition, and were not altogether uncommon during the time period this toddler lived.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
Paradoxically, these efforts sometimes undermine their own goals, concealing, and at times exacerbating, the afflictions of the most vulnerable.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Now, the two pair their boundary-less creative freedom and turn it toward providing a mirror to modern-day afflictions, on this brooding look at mental health and depression.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2025
Among multiple other afflictions Levine expects are vitamin deficiencies, starvation, dramatic weight loss, vision problems due to a lack of sunlight, broken bones, cognitive impairment and mental health trauma.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Loneliness and social isolation are often discussed as afflictions of the aging process.
—Erin Lowry, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Dec. 2024
Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
Some of us have both of these afflictions, particularly beyond the age of 40-to-50.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 19 Aug. 2025
While untreated mental afflictions can now be addressed under state law, the same should be extended to folks suffering from addiction.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025
See treasures Both afflictions can be caused by a combination of environmental factors and malnutrition, and were not altogether uncommon during the time period this toddler lived.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
Paradoxically, these efforts sometimes undermine their own goals, concealing, and at times exacerbating, the afflictions of the most vulnerable.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025
Now, the two pair their boundary-less creative freedom and turn it toward providing a mirror to modern-day afflictions, on this brooding look at mental health and depression.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2025
Among multiple other afflictions Levine expects are vitamin deficiencies, starvation, dramatic weight loss, vision problems due to a lack of sunlight, broken bones, cognitive impairment and mental health trauma.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
Loneliness and social isolation are often discussed as afflictions of the aging process.
—Erin Lowry, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflictions
Noun
-
The last of the old curses and the purest championship drought in the sport.—
Grant Brisbee,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Set for Vietnamese release in the fourth quarter of 2025, The Whispering Spirit is based on ancient myths about special days known as ‘Tam Nương’ that have curses placed on them.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But vanquishing his demons against the team for which his on-field struggles were most highly publicized would be a cathartic endeavor.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
However, he is born out of the same need to release music, to release the demons that are entering his brain.—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Celtics star Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles in that second-round series, and Pacers floor general Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and those two injuries have opened up the East.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Admittedly, Howe had hoped to alter his side more in 2023-24, making four changes following the draw at Milan, but injuries and suspensions restricted his ability to do so.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Monster has debuted into this very fraught political moment where, despite no evidence showing a link between violence and transness, right-wingers have gone to great pains to paint almost every mass shooter who makes front page news as trans in hopes of stripping trans people of their rights.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The medium-firm memory foam balances a cozy, sink-in feeling with actual support that won’t leave you with aches and pains come morning.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Davis and Lively each are dangerous lob threats.—
Christian Clark,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The mother of Jacob De La Rosa, a 15-year-old Polytechnic High School student who was stabbed near the campus Friday afternoon, believes that her son’s death stemmed from threats that were made to Jacob’s older brothers.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But worst of all is the knowledge that all of these terrors were trademarks of the asylums that stowed away those with mental health conditions well into the 20th century.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Repression, self-harm, substance abuse, bullying, jealousy, emotional abuse, and even allusions to grooming, among other terrors of the fog, keep the tensions high from start to finish.—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The daycare owners also signed away their right to sue for flood damages, but the state did not place a restrictive covenant on their remaining property.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
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Around $150,000 in attorney’s fees, damages and more, actually.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The harms of lead were largely forgotten or invisible until the 20th century.—
Tom Frieden,
Big Think,
30 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, environmental advocates have raised concerns, including infringing on tribal culture and potential harms to nearby wetlands, groundwater, rivers and threatened and endangered species, such as wood turtles.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afflictions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflictions. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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