afflict

[ uh-flikt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to distress with mental or bodily pain; trouble greatly or grievously:

   to be afflicted with migraine headaches.

   Synonyms: plague, torment, harass, vex

2. Obsolete.
   1. to overthrow; defeat.
   2. to humble.

afflict

/ əˈflɪkt /

verb

1. tr to cause suffering or unhappiness to; distress greatly

Derived Forms

• afˈflictive, adjective

Other Words From

• af·flict·er noun
• o·ver·af·flict verb (used with object)
• pre·af·flict verb (used with object)
• self-af·flict·ing adjective
• un·af·flict·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of afflict¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English afflicten, from Latin afflīctus “distressed,” past participle of afflīgere “to cast down” ( af- af- + flīg- “knock” + -tus past participle suffix); replacing Middle English aflight, from Middle French aflit, from Latin; inflict

Word History and Origins

Origin of afflict¹

C14: from Latin afflictus, past participle of afflīgere to knock against, from flīgere to knock, to strike

Example Sentences

Covid was diabolically crafted to afflict a world in which we were already raw, sore and constantly rubbing up against other, generating friction as we circulated both globally and locally.

From Washington Post

All democracies must try to counteract forms of “market censorship” that afflict profit-driven systems, favoring some voices while filtering out others.

From Washington Post

Fevers, I have learned, are far more lethal when they afflict nations.

From Time

The act gives pharmaceutical companies tax credits, market exclusivity, and other incentives to develop drugs for “orphan” diseases, which are defined as illnesses that afflict fewer than 200,000 people in the US.

From Quartz

They had all been infected by a form of pox that afflicts cows but is relatively harmless to humans, and Jenner surmised that the cowpox had given them immunity to smallpox.

From Time

He wanted to give a voice to the voiceless, comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.

From The Daily Beast

They want to take on authority and comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable and all that hoo-ha.

From The Daily Beast

Tina Brown: So performance anxiety must afflict writers as well as actors.

From The Daily Beast

The first person to consult, the last to afflict—a mother—should not be the victim of her daughter's feelings.

From Project Gutenberg

Had this been done, I should not have been here to-night—we would have had none of the troubles which afflict the country now.

From Project Gutenberg

The grand policy of theologians is to blow hot and to blow cold, to afflict and to console, to frighten and to reassure.

From Project Gutenberg

It is from this peculiar mental constitution that arise the woes that now afflict you.

From Project Gutenberg

The disordered currency of the country to which he belongs does not follow and afflict him abroad.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• annoy
• beset
• bother
• burden
• oppress
• plague
• rack
• torment
• torture
• wound