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
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
-
The Spanish government is moving to rein in real estate purchases by foreigners and curb the spread of short-term rentals, part of a series of measures that officials say are necessary to alleviate a painful housing crunch that has rapidly become one of the worst in Europe.—
Liz Alderman,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
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Trump also makes clear his intent to apply painful public and government pressure on private-sector DEI practices as well, and does not cloak his reasons.—
The Editors,
National Review,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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So, if the Dodgers transition from the team that was unable to win it in a 162-game regular season to a dynasty similar to the Yankees dynasty, then the complaints of harsher regulations against the Dodgers may be warranted.—
Tyler Small,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Avoid harsh or irritating products such as hydroxy acids (AHAs and BHAs) or retinoids.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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And having more thoughtful conversations doesn’t preclude the need sometimes to confront those who are needlessly cruel or organizations that benefit from such exploitation.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
18 Jan. 2025
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In recent months, the Justice Department and the state filed thousands of pages of new records in the lawsuit, including reports and sworn statements from pediatricians, scholars and others who describe Florida’s policies as archaic and cruel.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
17 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near afflicting
Cite this Entry
“Afflicting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflicting. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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