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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of afflicting
Sam Mednick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Dec. 2024
The United States now suffers from twin pathologies—one afflicting the health of its citizens and the other the health of its political system.
—Thomas J. Bollyky, Foreign Affairs, 30 Jan. 2020
The swift growth has been accompanied by stressors afflicting the city’s infrastructure, including its housing supply.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
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
Verb
An audacious plan In the mid-1980s, global health agencies were otherwise occupied and heads of state largely overlooked the illness afflicting millions of their citizens.
—Sam Mednick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Dec. 2024
The United States now suffers from twin pathologies—one afflicting the health of its citizens and the other the health of its political system.
—Thomas J. Bollyky, Foreign Affairs, 30 Jan. 2020
The swift growth has been accompanied by stressors afflicting the city’s infrastructure, including its housing supply.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
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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Even the indoor scenes were painful because you’re locked inside that heat.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
23 Mar. 2025
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The recent swoon, while painful for current shareholders, has driven the headline yield up to 6% and has driven valuations down—NOG trades for 7 times earnings estimates and at a low price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio of 0.56 (anything below 1 is considered to be undervalued).—
Brett Owens,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Designed for hiking and other outdoor adventures, these water-resistant pants are made with UPF 50 protection from harsh sun rays along with several spacious, handy pockets.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Mar. 2025
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And few other front offices are under a harsher microscope this March than the Bulls, whose main prize for trading Zach LaVine was the ability to recoup their draft pick from a prior swap with the San Antonio Spurs.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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What's particularly cruel about that reality is that after years of dealing with questions about his weight, the former Duke Blue Devil star played a career-high 70 games in 2023-24.—
Bobby Krivitsky,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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Here, Munir may be vaccinating chickens rather than grabbing them on their way to slaughter, but the work is just as thankless and cruel.—
Bartolomeo Sala,
The Dial,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afflicting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflicting. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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