affliction

American  

[uh-flik-shuhn] / əˈflɪk ʃən /

noun

1. a state of pain, distress, or grief; misery.

   They sympathized with us in our affliction.

   Antonyms:

   solace, comfort, relief

2. a cause of mental or bodily pain, as sickness, loss, calamity, or persecution.

   Synonyms:

   disaster, catastrophe, calamity, tribulation, trouble, mishap

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affliction British  

/ əˈflɪkʃən /

noun

1. a condition of great distress, pain, or suffering

2. something responsible for physical or mental suffering, such as a disease, grief, etc

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Usage

What is affliction? Affliction refers to a negative state that could include pain, suffering, or grief, as in The servants watched over the manor while the duke was in a state of affliction following his son’s death. Affliction can also refer to something that causes mental or bodily pain, such as disease or misfortune, as in The captain was bedridden due to a mysterious affliction that the doctor couldn’t identify.  Affliction is used similarly to words like adversity, misfortune, and trial, which also describe things that cause suffering or pain. Unlike these words, though, affliction is often used to describe something specifically forced on a person that causes serious emotional effects in addition to other suffering. Example: The man lost his hearing during the accident but has since learned to live with his affliction. 

Related Words

Affliction, adversity, misfortune, trial refer to an event or circumstance that is hard to bear. A misfortune is any adverse or unfavorable occurrence: He had the misfortune to break his leg. Affliction suggests not only a serious misfortune but the emotional effect of this: Blindness is an affliction. Adversity suggests a calamity or distress: Job remained patient despite all his adversities. Trial emphasizes the testing of one's character in undergoing misfortunes, trouble, etc.: His son's conduct was a great trial to him.

Other Word Forms

• afflictionless
  adjective
• overaffliction
  noun
• preaffliction
  noun

Etymology

Origin of affliction

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English affliccioun, from Latin afflīctiōn-, stem of afflīctiō; equivalent to afflict + -ion

Explanation

An affliction makes you suffer, but you have to deal with it anyway. Diseases are often said to be afflictions, but the word can mean just about anything that causes great suffering. The word afflict, which makes up the first part of the word, means to cause this type of trouble. "Tom liked to inflict pain on his brother. His brother considered Tom just one more affliction he had to bear." The word can also be used as an exaggeration of something that isn't so bad––"Homework is often seen as an affliction by students and parents alike."

Example Sentences

In 2005, Florida first got signs of a new affliction in its groves called citrus greening disease.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

As anxiety about the affliction spreads, the beauty industry is selling solutions ranging from creams to futuristic-looking LED red-light collars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Beyond entertainment, Shepard devoted herself to raising awareness for sickle cell anemia after a friend died of the affliction.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

But lately, it is drawing attention for those drugs’ success at clearing a more familiar affliction: acne.

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

He labors under an affliction in his speech, acquired through long habit of degradation or sudden excess of horror.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

• calamity
• disease
• disorder
• hardship
• illness
• infirmity
• misery
• pain
• scourge
• sickness
• suffering
• torment
• woe