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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
They were considered to have strange physical afflictions or weak mental attitudes, and some people with endocrine diseases were even dismissed as ‘freaks’ and heckled in circuses or locked away in institutions.
—
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Fox McCloud has fallen victim to one of the most common afflictions in video game art direction—realism—the anthropomorphic fox and friends risk veering into the uncanny valley.
—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2026
Nearly 90 percent of respondents reported injuries or illness on the job — afflictions that spanned heat stroke to exposure to pesticides.
—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
4 May 2026
An offense built on length has been ravaged by injuries and some sort of affliction that has the Mets regularly hitting the ball into the ground instead of in the air.
—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for affliction
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Fox McCloud has fallen victim to one of the most common afflictions in video game art direction—realism—the anthropomorphic fox and friends risk veering into the uncanny valley.
—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2026
Nearly 90 percent of respondents reported injuries or illness on the job — afflictions that spanned heat stroke to exposure to pesticides.
—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
4 May 2026
An offense built on length has been ravaged by injuries and some sort of affliction that has the Mets regularly hitting the ball into the ground instead of in the air.
—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for affliction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affliction
Noun
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Watch closely for signs of heat distress in yourself and others, including your neighbors and the elderly, Delaney said.
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Never upside down — The flag should never be displayed upside down except as a signal of distress.
Noun
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President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the crash and offered condolences to the victims' families.
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Croatia’s World Cup exit was not without a fight, with a last-minute, stoppage time goal that likely had fans screaming at the TV in jubilation, and then in sorrow.
Noun
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Brazil’s European curse at the World Cup continues thanks to Norway’s biggest star.
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Not obsessed One Wish Willow Nikki, but actual Nikki, now awoken from her curse when Bear dies.
Noun
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Wynonna, with help from her younger sister, the town’s sheriff and an infamous Wild West gunslinger, must save her hometown from demons and other supernatural creatures.
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In the film, Tanjiro, Nezuko and the Hashira are drawn into the Infinity Castle, where the Demon Slayer Corps must confront the terrifying Upper Rank demons.
Noun
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In 2023, more than a decade after a experiencing season-ending racing injuries, Muniz decided to pursue his dream of NASCAR racing full-throttle and announced his return to stock car racing in the ARCA Menards Series.
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Pulisic looked rusty while getting his first start since the group stage opener when he was subbed out at halftime with a calf injury.
Noun
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Rojas said the earthquakes have caused agony for Venezuelan players, even those who didn’t lose family or friends.
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There were the two calls in September, one about a detainee who lay on the floor holding his stomach in agony and unable to speak after swallowing an unknown object.
Noun
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Some mourners, gathering at the funeral of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Saturday, expressed both anguish and a desire for vengeance.
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And with that decision, the company narrowed the chance that the mother’s anguish could draw attention to any danger the formula might pose to other infants.
Noun
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Thanks to the arch nemesis of both clubs in question, Real Madrid, Alvarez’s market value is believed to be something around the $171 million (€150 million) the mark.
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Ser Simon had been an ally of sorts to Aemond's arch-nemesis, Prince Daemon (Matt Smith).
Cite this Entry
“Affliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affliction. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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