1
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
she listened with deep affliction as her daughter told her about the latest trouble she was in
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2
as in sorrow
deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved
felt such great affliction over the destruction of the beautiful old home
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3
as in curse
a source of harm or misfortune
alcohol has been his affliction ever since he took his first drink at the age of 12
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4
5
as in injury
something that causes loss or pain
cronyism and corruption are afflictions on the body politic
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of affliction
The character was meant to be a nod to the friend that the Whannell family lost, while creating an early parallel to the affliction that Blake suffers upon his return home in 2025.
—
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025
The special episode will reveal a chilling pattern of violence that began in Hernandez’s youth and carried throughout his football career and his affliction with a severe case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2024
Plantar fasciitis and Morton’s neuroma/fibroma are afflictions that have come and gone.
—Sonaiya Kelley, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
But the weights eventually come off, making that strategy an impermanent solution for the affliction.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for affliction
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025
The special episode will reveal a chilling pattern of violence that began in Hernandez’s youth and carried throughout his football career and his affliction with a severe case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2024
Plantar fasciitis and Morton’s neuroma/fibroma are afflictions that have come and gone.
—Sonaiya Kelley, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
But the weights eventually come off, making that strategy an impermanent solution for the affliction.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for affliction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affliction
Noun
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Yarden appeared to be in extreme distress in the video and was very likely speaking under duress.—
Mick Krever,
CNN,
20 Feb. 2025
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While the civil lawsuit filed by Petito's parents accused them of withholding information and causing emotional distress, no criminal charges were brought against them.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Residents gathered in Hostages Square, outside Israel's defense headquarters, as sorrow set in across the country.—
Chris Kenning,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
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The sorrows of the women are also narrativized with poignancy and emotionality.—
Ritesh Mehta,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The Chinese Communist Party is a curse upon the earth.—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
19 Feb. 2025
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Finishing fifth — or even fourth, as Liverpool managed last season — has historically been a bit of a curse, with teams struggling to build on their successes.—
Jessy Parker Humphreys,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Now a lawyer like her father, she’s forced to confront her demons as the case twists through one shocking revelation after another.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2025
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer launched in 1997 and ultimately ran for seven seasons, telling the story of its titular hero, a young woman who must fight vampires, demons, and other evil forces while making her way through high school.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Among the documents, a medical report detailing significant head and body injuries on one Russian who had been sent back to fight.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
22 Feb. 2025
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Upon returning from his injury, Wade posted a .316 on-base percentage and .351 slugging percentage over 235 plate appearances.—
Justice delos Santos,
The Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Challenges of rebuilding Victims who lost homes will be faced with the decision whether to rebuild — which can be agony.—
Tony Saavedra,
Orange County Register,
24 Feb. 2025
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Then, Cara’s killshot was followed by her screams of agony at her dire circumstances.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The loss of 67 lives, many of them young people, fills me with anguish.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2025
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It is filled with people waiting for resettlement, living with constant anguish while facing the risk of arrest and deportation.—
Anne Chan,
NBC News,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Black-robed Trump nemeses emerged as a menacing force during the first Trump administration.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
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Last month, Sam Altman, the C.E.O. of OpenAI and perhaps Musk’s primary nemesis, launched a five-hundred-billion-dollar data-center initiative called Stargate with the coöperation of Trump.—
Kyle Chayka,
The New Yorker,
12 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Affliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affliction. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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