afflict
verb
af·flict ə-ˈflikt 
afflicted; afflicting; afflicts
transitive verb
1
a
: to cause pain or suffering to : to distress so severely as to cause persistent suffering or anguish
people afflicted with arthritis
a region afflicted by hunger and poverty
b
: trouble, injure
2
obsolete
a
: humble
b
: overthrow
Synonyms
- agonize
- anguish
- bedevil
- beset
- besiege
- curse
- excruciate
- harrow
- persecute
- plague
- rack
- torment
- torture
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The disease afflicts an estimated two million people every year. the South was afflicted by a severe drought
Recent Examples on the Web Morrison’s backstory for Luda is a gothic kaleidoscope of the horrors that can afflict a child who doesn’t fit parental preconceptions. 
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
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
Etymology
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
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
afflict
verb
af·flict ə-ˈflikt
afflicted; afflicting
: to cause pain or unhappiness to
An unusual illness afflicted the young girl.
afflicts
verb
as in plagues
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
Relevance
- plagues
- persecutes
- tortures
- besets
- besieges
- bedevils
- bothers
- torments
- attacks
- curses
- agonizes
- anguishes
- troubles
- stings
- harrows
- racks
- disturbs
- overwhelms
- strikes
- assails
- aggravates
- pursues
- vexes
- annoys
- oppresses
- irritates
- exasperates
- excruciates
- harasses
- distresses
- irks
- perturbs
- victimizes
- hurts
- grieves
- pesters
- riles
- molests
- agitates
- harries
- disquiets
- worries
- dogs
- tries
- hounds
- tyrannizes
- upsets
- bugs
- stresses
- smites
- overpowers
- chafes
- badgers
- rides
- galls
- piques
- flusters
- grates
- discomforts
- gripes
- stabs
- pains
- peeves
- nettles
- wrings
- pangs
- crushes
- gets
- strains
- puts out
- discomposes
- pricks
- rasps
- martyrs
- smarts
- hagrides
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- helps
- aids
- assists
- abets
- relieves
- delivers
- soothes
- releases
- quiets
- contents
- comforts
- consoles
- solaces
- succors
- reprieves