afflict

verb

af·​flict ə-ˈflikt 

afflicted; afflicting; afflicts

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause pain or suffering to : to distress so severely as to cause persistent suffering or anguish

people afflicted with arthritis

a region afflicted by hunger and poverty

b

: trouble, injure

2

obsolete

a

: humble

b

: overthrow

Synonyms

• agonize
• anguish
• bedevil
• beset
• besiege
• curse
• excruciate
• harrow
• persecute
• plague
• rack
• torment
• torture

Choose the Right Synonym for afflict

afflict, try, torment, torture, rack mean to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear.

afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress.

ills that afflict the elderly

try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.

children often try their parents' patience

torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance.

a horse tormented by flies

torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.

tortured by a sense of guilt

rack stresses straining or wrenching.

a body racked by pain

Examples of afflict in a Sentence

The disease afflicts an estimated two million people every year.

the South was afflicted by a severe drought

Recent Examples on the Web

Still many have struggled with insurance coverage and storage efforts, with those working in these industries often personally afflicted themselves. —Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 10 Jan. 2025

Nursing homes, day cares and other places that serve people who may have weakened immune systems often use egg products for this reason. not be left out In recent years, another nasty bug has been afflicting poultry and, in turn, egg production. —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 10 Jan. 2025

Even Amad was afflicted, wasting a good counter-attack by passing the ball into touch. —Laurie Whitwell, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024

When the Carter Center began eradication efforts against Guinea worm disease in 1986, about 3.5 million people across 21 countries were afflicted with the excruciating condition. —Bill Marsh, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English afflihten "to excite, become distressed," probably verbal derivative of affliht, aflyght "disturbed, upset," borrowed from Latin afflīctus, past participle of afflīgere "to knock or strike down, ruin, distress severely," from ad- ad- + flīgere "to strike down" — more at profligate entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

afflict

verb

af·​flict ə-ˈflikt 

: to cause suffering or unhappiness to