afflict
verb
transitive verb
Synonyms
- agonize
- anguish
- bedevil
- beset
- besiege
- curse
- excruciate
- harrow
- persecute
- plague
- rack
- torment
- torture
Example Sentences
Noah Bertlatsky, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2022 Instead, we are given a few weeks to predict what disease or accident might afflict our family in the calendar year ahead. Nick Fuller Googins, Men's Health, 17 Aug. 2022 Given all that, perhaps the biggest revelation in her new autobiography, A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman, is that this stellar high achiever was plagued by the same doubts and lack of confidence that afflict the rest of us. Howard Lee, Ars Technica, 2 July 2022 That pessimism is due to natural decline rates averaging around 10% a year that afflict mature oil fields. Christopher Helman, Forbes, 2 June 2022 His last article for the magazine was on long Covid, the mysterious set of ailments that afflict some people after Covid-19 infection. New York Times, 25 May 2022 Nafisi’s dispatches are eloquent essays on literature’s power to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Chris Vognar, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2022 Not all of the disease’s effects are well understood: researchers are still studying how Covid-19 damages the brain and inhibits smell and the mechanism behind the long-term symptoms that afflict about 1 in 5 adult survivors of the disease. Zachary Snowdon Smith, Forbes, 26 May 2022 Near or above record highs in the mid-90s are projected to afflict the Houston area until Monday. Dan Carson, Chron, 13 May 2022 See More Word History
Middle English afflihten "to excite, become distressed," probably verbal derivative of affliht, aflyght "disturbed, upset," borrowed from Latin afflīctus, past participle of afflīgere "to knock or strike down, ruin, distress severely," from ad- ad- + flīgere "to strike down" — more at profligate entry 1
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
afflict
verb
afflict
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- plague
- persecute
- besiege
- beset
- bedevil
- torture
- torment
- curse
- bother
- attack
- anguish
- agonize
- trouble
- harrow
- assail
- sting
- disturb
- rack
- aggravate
- annoy
- overwhelm
- excruciate
- strike
- oppress
- vex
- irritate
- harass
- irk
- exasperate
- perturb
- pursue
- molest
- hurt
- distress
- victimize
- pester
- worry
- agitate
- hound
- smite
- grieve
- discomfort
- rile
- try
- discompose
- chafe
- dog
- tyrannize
- overpower
- disquiet
- bug
- pain
- badger
- stress
- upset
- ride
- stab
- harry
- gall
- fluster
- pique
- peeve
- put out
- gripe
- strain
- grate
- wring
- nettle
- crush
- smart
- pang
- get
- martyr
- prick
- rasp
- hagride
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- help
- assist
- aid
- relieve
- abet
- deliver
- soothe
- release
- comfort
- quiet
- console
- content
- succor
- reprieve
- solace
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of afflict are rack, torment, torture, and try. While all these words mean "to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear," afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress.
In some situations, the words rack and afflict are roughly equivalent. However, rack stresses straining or wrenching.
While in some cases nearly identical to afflict, torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance.
The synonyms torture and afflict are sometimes interchangeable, but torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.
Although the words try and afflict have much in common, try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.