afflicted

[ uh-flik-tid ]

/ əˈflɪk tɪd /

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See synonyms for afflicted on Thesaurus.com

adjective

greatly distressed or troubled by bodily or mental pain:The severity of these symptoms predicts how well the afflicted individuals can live independently and maintain employment.

noun (used with a singular or plural verb)

Usually the afflicted . a person or persons distressed or troubled in such a way:Behind each of these killer diseases is the pain of despair, loneliness, and loss in the lives of the bereaved and the afflicted.

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of afflict.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of afflicted

afflict + -ed²

OTHER WORDS FROM afflicted

af·flict·ed·ness, nounun·af·flict·ed, adjectiveun·af·flict·ed·ly, adverbun·af·flict·ed·ness, noun

Words nearby afflicted

affixation, affixture, afflated, afflatus, afflict, afflicted, afflicting, affliction, afflictive, affluence, affluency

How to use afflicted in a sentence

You see, the way that a virus afflicts you is dependent on an “incubation period”—the number of days between when you catch a pathogen and actually show symptoms.
How long does it take to find out if you’ve been exposed to coronavirus?|Sy Mukherjee|August 31, 2020|Fortune
Japan has not suffered from the soaring increases in infections and deaths that have afflicted the United States, but critics faulted Abe for failing to deal more swiftly and decisively enough to completely contain the virus.
The legacy Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister, will leave after resigning|claychandler|August 28, 2020|Fortune
In April 1955, scientists confirmed that a vaccine developed by researcher Jonas Salk had proved effective against polio, a debilitating and often fatal disease that afflicted tens of thousands of Americans a year.
Butterfly Effect: The Unscientific Vaccine|Charu Kasturi|August 13, 2020|Ozy
Many medical science fiction texts depict diseases afflicting all of humanity which must put up a unified front or perish.
Science Fiction Explores the Interconnectedness Revealed by the Coronavirus Pandemic|Mayurika Chakravorty|August 9, 2020|Singularity Hub

Undecidable questions have even arisen in physics, suggesting that Gödelian incompleteness afflicts not just math, but — in some ill-understood way — reality.
How Gödel’s Proof Works|Natalie Wolchover|July 14, 2020|Quanta Magazine
They are afflicted with “progressive spiritual emptiness,” he said, which no amount of academic honors and degrees can fill.
Pope Francis Denounces the Vatican Elite’s 'Spiritual Alzheimer’s'|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ortega has dismissed the allegations of autocracy and fraud that have afflicted his presidency as politically motivated.
China’s Nicaragua Canal Could Spark a New Central America Revolution|Nina Lakhani|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Pat Roberts is in trouble for the same reasons that have afflicted many other senators.
A Loss by Pat Roberts in Kansas? Actually, Not So Bizarre|Jeff Greenfield|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He wanted to give a voice to the voiceless, comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.
Obama Administration and Sotloff Family Battle Over Blame for Journalist’s Kidnapping|Josh Rogin|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Silva concludes that America is afflicted by the socio-optic condition of “colorblind racism.”
How We Got to Ferguson—a Reading List|David Masciotra|August 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The elder Mr. Weller drove a coach for twelve months, but, being afflicted with the gout, was compelled to retire.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
Father Biard went to the afflicted parent of the boy, and asked whether he might, with his consent, baptize the dying child.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
For the affliction of the daughter of my people I am afflicted, and made sorrowful, astonishment hath taken hold on me.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Just a poor, afflicted fellow out of work and anxious to make a living for his family.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
Babylon, which hath afflicted the Israelites, after their restoration, shall be utterly destroyed.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various