as in troubled
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as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to
the South was afflicted by a severe drought he's been afflicted by nightmares ever since the accident
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Recent Examples of afflicted
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
Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
Their presence has revitalized towns historically afflicted by the woes of the boom-and-bust cycles of the oil and gas industry.
—Ernesto Sagás, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Bruce established the nonprofit organization the Lenny Bruce Memorial Foundation in 2008, dedicated to providing lifesaving scholarships for individuals afflicted with substance use disorder.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 22 May 2026
For instance, if your potatoes and tomatoes are afflicted with black spot, don't plant your rose in the vegetable garden.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 May 2026
Nelson’s grandmother was afflicted with dementia at the time of first reading the novel while Miller Rogen’s mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at just 55 years old.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Some babies died, and several of those who survived were afflicted with infections or long-term health problems, their mothers said.
—Abigail Brooks, NBC news, 13 May 2026
Roma have not had a regular goalscorer since Tammy Abraham’s knee injury in 2023 and even then, the Englishman was afflicted by second-season syndrome.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Daniel de Visé Fourteen Spanish citizens who were on the cruise ship afflicted with a hantavirus outbreak have arrived home in Spain.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 11 May 2026
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
But all hope is not lost for the mosquito-afflicted.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
Their presence has revitalized towns historically afflicted by the woes of the boom-and-bust cycles of the oil and gas industry.
—Ernesto Sagás, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Bruce established the nonprofit organization the Lenny Bruce Memorial Foundation in 2008, dedicated to providing lifesaving scholarships for individuals afflicted with substance use disorder.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 22 May 2026
For instance, if your potatoes and tomatoes are afflicted with black spot, don't plant your rose in the vegetable garden.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 May 2026
Nelson’s grandmother was afflicted with dementia at the time of first reading the novel while Miller Rogen’s mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at just 55 years old.
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Some babies died, and several of those who survived were afflicted with infections or long-term health problems, their mothers said.
—Abigail Brooks, NBC news, 13 May 2026
Roma have not had a regular goalscorer since Tammy Abraham’s knee injury in 2023 and even then, the Englishman was afflicted by second-season syndrome.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Daniel de Visé Fourteen Spanish citizens who were on the cruise ship afflicted with a hantavirus outbreak have arrived home in Spain.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflicted
Adjective
-
Emmanuel co-stars as Detective Doran, an officer assigned to shadow Grimes, with Greenwood playing Henry Monroe, the therapist Grimes is mandated to see, whose sessions begin to reveal the detective’s troubled past.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
1 June 2026
-
The discoveries, announced Sunday, are part of the Egyptian government’s efforts to boost the country’s tourism industry and bring cash to the troubled economy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Throughout the rosary recital in the grotto, I was plagued with worry.—
Annie Ernaux,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Criminal groups have increasingly launched drone strikes and armed attacks have plagued the race, and last June, politician and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay, 39, was fatally shot at a political rally.—
Raquel Coronell Uribe,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
During and shortly after the Spanish Civil War, Franco’s regime, too, persecuted Esperantists for the language’s association with anti–nationalism and anarchism.—
Katie Thornton,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
-
Blanche, who defended the fund at a congressional hearing this week, has said anyone who believes they’ve been persecuted can apply for compensation regardless of political affiliation.—
Eric Tucker,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
Getting that exemption will be more difficult than most people had expected, meaning that more sick and disabled people are likely to lose their Medicaid coverage.—
Tara Bannow,
STAT,
3 June 2026
-
There are special additional rules for households with elderly or disabled members.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
You’d get tortured or killed for just expressing yourself.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
27 May 2026
-
Tursun, 36, told us that her newborn son — one of triplets — had been killed by the Chinese Communist Party and that she was tortured in internment camps.—
Michael Arkush,
Twin Cities,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
Without getting into spoilers, her one-and-done appearance in Episode 5 presents the perfect opportunity for the more-than-capable Meester to match wits with Bell’s judgmental Joanna, only to strand the actor with boring, obvious jokes and saddle her with a feeble resolution.—
Hugh Hart,
IndieWire,
23 May 2026
-
There was a sense of endings at St James’ Park; not definitive, not complete, but persuasive, a final home game for Kieran Trippier as a Newcastle player, and a feeble waft of farewell in the colour of claret.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Bay Area content creator Kane Parsons pushes back on conventional storytelling, and his hypnotic approach results in one of 2026’s most exhilarating debuts, a existential head trip that GoPros us into a human subconscious besieged by misshapen memories that trap and hold you hostage.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
-
Over the years, we were constantly besieged with inquiries.—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Earlier this month, Nancy Guthrie, the elderly and infirm mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was violently taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The four Democratic members of the JBC, which controls the state budget, asked with growing consternation why the Department of Corrections hadn’t brought them a plan to address overcrowding, to step up releases of old and infirm inmates, or to improve its own shortcomings.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Afflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflicted. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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