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Synonyms

afflicting

British  
/ əˈflɪktɪŋ /

adjective

  1. deeply distressing; painful

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

What follows are the factors afflicting each region or market.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 17, 2026

I would argue that the parallel still holds, in that the fundamental crisis of democracy afflicting both countries is strikingly similar.

From Salon • Feb. 15, 2026

Their case is helped by the crisis afflicting Dundee University and evidence that much of further education is heading deep into the red and facing possible closures.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

After rallying for most of the year, bitcoin and other digital tokens fall back—caught up in a broader decline afflicting riskier trades across all markets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

The conference ended with the passing of a multitude of resolutions dealing with China, India, Germany, Japan, and conditions afflicting various parts of the earth.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright