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

Other Word Forms

• afflicter noun
• overafflict verb (used with object)
• preafflict verb (used with object)
• self-afflicting adjective
• unafflicting adjective
• afflictive 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

It goes without saying, but this series is not for anyone afflicted with arachnophobia.

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Gross hallucinations — or are they? — will afflict them through the series.

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The characters are not afflicted with speechifying; silences allow the viewer to enter into the spaces between them, and to let their experience echo with one’s own.

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The sector was partially afflicted by new worries about loans by regional banks, tied to comments made by Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, earlier this week.

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But it also suggests they’re taking care to step right — not in order to avoid trouble because self-censorship is not a curse that seems to have ever afflicted them — but to fine-tune their case.

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Related Words

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