as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
the afflicting sight of so many earthquake victims was too much even for some hardened rescue workers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
the South was afflicted by a severe drought he's been afflicted by nightmares ever since the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of afflicting
Longreads, 4 Oct. 2024
Whatever's afflicting you out there, in here the coffee is always hot, the fries are always crispy and the ranch dip is always free.
—Tyler Buchanan, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024
Something is genuinely off about the goings-on at the conference, from strange deaths and elevators that suddenly aren’t elevators, to a rash of scabby infections afflicting guests and the discovery of a subterranean tunnel.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024
Israel has also been busy afflicting potentially mortal blows against Hezbollah’s powerful rocket and missile arsenal, estimated to number anywhere from 150,000 to 200,000 surface-to-surface projectiles, including long-range and precision-guided munitions.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
Maylia and Jack are both kids, two of the untold number of minors caught up in one side or the other of the burgeoning fentanyl trade afflicting the US.
—Longreads, 4 Oct. 2024
Whatever's afflicting you out there, in here the coffee is always hot, the fries are always crispy and the ranch dip is always free.
—Tyler Buchanan, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024
Something is genuinely off about the goings-on at the conference, from strange deaths and elevators that suddenly aren’t elevators, to a rash of scabby infections afflicting guests and the discovery of a subterranean tunnel.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024
Israel has also been busy afflicting potentially mortal blows against Hezbollah’s powerful rocket and missile arsenal, estimated to number anywhere from 150,000 to 200,000 surface-to-surface projectiles, including long-range and precision-guided munitions.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflicting
Adjective
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Being apart from them was a painful sacrifice, but the promise of Canadian residency for her and eventually her children seemed worth it.Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
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Divorce is a profoundly personal and often painful experience, made even more complex for entrepreneurs whose personal and business lives are closely intertwined.Sara Khaki, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The corps’ push for additional benefits coincided with a harsh realization for the British Army: For white men, service in the West Indies was viewed as a death sentence due to the high risk of disease.Kinsey Gidick, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
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With his latest project, he’s found a balance between the harsher realities of the real world, and his own playful spirit.Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In season 2, a cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to the Dutton ranch.Christian Holub, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2024
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In Season 2, a cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob (Ford) and Cara (Mirren) back at Dutton ranch.Denise Petski, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near afflicting
Cite this Entry
“Afflicting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflicting. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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