afflicted 1 of 2

afflicted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of afflict

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 afflicted
Adjective
The afflicted man instead went to a Dawson hospital, where he was fed only raw potatoes and charged $10 a day for the privilege. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 12 June 2022 For nearly five years, the lingering hope of the pundit class (and, notably, the Biden campaign) was that the Trump fever would eventually burn itself out and those so afflicted would awake from its throes eager to be normal again. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 6 Jan. 2022 Regarding Cuba now, there seems to be an additional Russian objective: weakening U.S. and Canadian intelligence on the island by forcing the evacuation of afflicted spies and diplomatic personnel. Néstor T. Carbonell, National Review, 12 Apr. 2021 Some of the bikers pouring into the area are coming from distant states far more afflicted. CBS News, 10 Aug. 2020 Kroger officials said McMullen had planned to remove his mask for the event, which was not attended by Pence's afflicted press secretary Katie Miller who stayed in Washington. Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati.com, 11 May 2020 Symptoms of the illness are similar to pneumonia, although videos have been posted that purportedly show afflicted people collapsing on the street, bleeding from their mouths, and being treated by doctors wearing hazmat suits. Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, 25 Jan. 2020 Mealy bugs can be a real problem, not just for the afflicted plant but for neighboring, healthy houseplants. Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2019 Making a compelling financial case to fight climate change and to help the most afflicted demands a rigorous accounting of its effects. Umair Irfan, Vox, 9 Oct. 2018
Verb
For example, the same researchers at Cornell University who invented the new goggles have previously shown a reduction in blood flow in the brains of mice afflicted with the condition. Michael Franco, New Atlas, 29 Dec. 2024 Terrified, the patient almost reflexively asked her surgeon to remove both of her breasts, even though the cancer afflicted only one side. Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 22 Dec. 2024 The antisemitism controversy that afflicted Documenta in 2022 largely went unmentioned in the announcement of Beckwith’s appointment, though Timon Gremmels, the Minister of State for Science and Research for the state of Hesse, briefly alluded to it in his statement. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 18 Dec. 2024 Doctors have raised alarms as young workers have been afflicted with silicosis, a deadly illness caused by inhaling particles of crystalline silica. Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024 These turtles need some warmth The frigid Northeast temperatures of the last several days have accelerated the arrival of sea turtles afflicted with life-threatening hypothermia at Cape Cod beaches, requiring more than 250 of them to be rescued so far. Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 3 Dec. 2024 Politicians seem as afflicted with age denialism as everyone else. Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024 But until late Saturday, when USC (6-5, 4-5 Big Ten) escaped the cold rain of the Rose Bowl with a 19-13 win over UCLA (4-7, 3-6), symptoms that afflicted the team all season lingered. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2024 Advertisement Hard times have long afflicted the Land of Enchantment. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflicted
Adjective
  • Setting: The Maldives Main Characters Patrick Schwarzenegger as Tristan Kennedy A charismatic but troubled political scion trying to escape his family’s legacy.
    Martine Paris, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The former had Tom Hardy as a troubled guy named Locke watching his life unravel during a feature-length road trip.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Several groups, including those advocating for military veterans, the elderly and disabled people, have intervened in that case and requested that a larger panel of judges from the 5th Circuit reconsider the decision.
    Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The move could jeopardize public access to benefits for millions of elderly and disabled Americans who rely on the SSA's phone service to submit claims and make transactions.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Francis' feeble voice, discernible through his labored breaths and in his native Spanish, was recorded Thursday from the hospital and broadcast to the faithful in St. Peter's Square who had gathered for the nightly recitation of the rosary prayer.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 7 Mar. 2025
  • When experienced all at once, these features can further shake an emerging adult’s already feeble sense of stability.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • After jumping out to a 9-2 start this season, the Phoenix Suns have sputtered over the past month as injuries have besieged their Big Three.
    Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
  • The wealthiest man in the world used his social media platform X to amplify the unrest, and GOP lawmakers were besieged with phone calls to their offices telling them to oppose the plan.
    Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Threat level: Cover your plants, drip your faucets and bring in your pets — and check on your neighbors, especially ones who are infirm.
    Asher Price, Axios, 18 Feb. 2025
  • With their branches weighted down by snow, his evergreens are infirm but not yet fallen—still here after the storm.
    Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Is the only way to stop bird flu to kill off all diseased birds?
    Evan Bush, NBC News, 9 Mar. 2025
  • According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, a liver transplant is a surgery that replaces a diseased liver with a healthy liver from another person.
    Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • However, there is no formal provision in canon law for an incapacitated pope, and there are no current signs that Francis is unable to govern.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
  • But there is no precedent for forcibly removing an incapacitated member who had taken the oath of office that Congress.
    Emily Brooks, The Hill, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The water was a blur of teal fringed with rusty shadows, darkening, about twenty feet below, to a sickly emerald.
    Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Larry Shapiro, Calgary, Alberta Hamas has no conscience Seeing the sickly, gaunt faces of the three Israeli hostages released by Hamas in Gaza on Feb. 8 presented a clear picture of the loathing and deep hostility their abductors felt for them.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Afflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflicted. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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