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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of afflicting
Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2025
One key focus of these efforts should address the deficiencies afflicting the market for biologics, which are medicines made or derived from biological processes.
—Wayne Winegarden, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
To be sure, this rash of robberies pales in comparison with the crime levels afflicting less affluent neighborhoods on the South and West sides.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
And yet, because the show requires quite a bit of prior knowledge for viewers to truly know what’s going on, particularly in the back half of the season, Born Again ends up suffering the exact same malady afflicting every other inch of the MCU enterprise.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
Egg prices have jumped to all-time highs due in part to an outbreak of avian flu, or bird flu, that has been afflicting egg-laying hens in the US since 2022.
—Jennifer Hauser, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
Egg prices have skyrocketed to all-time highs due in part to an outbreak of avian flu, or bird flu, that has been afflicting egg-laying hens in the US since 2022.
—John Towfighi, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
But when the movie begins, his bosses consider his contract killing career to be approaching its natural conclusion because of the joint pain afflicting his trigger finger.
—Natalia Winkelman, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
At the time, no one knew what was afflicting her; over the next several decades, doctors hypothesized that her symptoms were caused by everything from malnutrition to psychosis.
—Bethany Heitman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
That’s changing this year, as three Democratic governors announced new initiatives aimed at addressing disparities afflicting boys and men.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2025
One key focus of these efforts should address the deficiencies afflicting the market for biologics, which are medicines made or derived from biological processes.
—Wayne Winegarden, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
To be sure, this rash of robberies pales in comparison with the crime levels afflicting less affluent neighborhoods on the South and West sides.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
And yet, because the show requires quite a bit of prior knowledge for viewers to truly know what’s going on, particularly in the back half of the season, Born Again ends up suffering the exact same malady afflicting every other inch of the MCU enterprise.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
Egg prices have jumped to all-time highs due in part to an outbreak of avian flu, or bird flu, that has been afflicting egg-laying hens in the US since 2022.
—Jennifer Hauser, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
Egg prices have skyrocketed to all-time highs due in part to an outbreak of avian flu, or bird flu, that has been afflicting egg-laying hens in the US since 2022.
—John Towfighi, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
But when the movie begins, his bosses consider his contract killing career to be approaching its natural conclusion because of the joint pain afflicting his trigger finger.
—Natalia Winkelman, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
At the time, no one knew what was afflicting her; over the next several decades, doctors hypothesized that her symptoms were caused by everything from malnutrition to psychosis.
—Bethany Heitman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflicting
Adjective
-
Although the condition itself isn’t typically painful, raw or blistered skin can lead to pain and swelling.7 Secondary skin infections—like if a blister is exposed to bacteria and gets infected—can also cause painful symptoms.—
Sarah Bradley,
Health,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Once tooth enamel is lost, the tooth nerves are exposed, which is painful and makes the teeth sensitive.—
Thomas Westerholm,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The report didn’t elaborate on that treatment but studies and surveys have previously highlighted the military’s notoriously harsh conditions.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
-
The former Calle 13 member impresses her sensitivity to this piece, originally written by Orlando Brito and popularized in 1975 by the great Héctor Lavoe, giving it new life with her powerful, dramatic voice, accompanied by street guitars and harsh, aggressive chords that captivate the listener.—
Jessica Roiz,
Billboard,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
That is a particularly egregious example of how the Trump Administration has been gratuitously cruel to the Sudanese.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Stacy, Tim’s wife, also died of pancreatic cancer five months later in February of 2024, a cruel hand for a family that for years had gone above and beyond in their efforts to raise money and awareness for cancer research.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
3 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Afflicting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflicting. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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