afflict
verb (used with object)
to distress with mental or bodily pain; trouble greatly or grievously.
have afflicted
-
present perfectof afflict.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Despite its long deployment, the Lincoln avoided some of the accidents that have afflicted other carriers on recent deployments, including during Operation Epic Fury.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
The report found that staffing shortages, which have afflicted all King County’s correctional facilities, have led to youth spending more time than planned alone in their cells, about 14 hours a day total.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 24, 2024
Subsidence issues have afflicted other major urban centres in Asia, including Osaka and Tokyo in Japan in the past.
From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2024
Variola virus, the most notorious poxvirus and one of the deadliest viruses to have afflicted humans, wreaked havoc by causing smallpox until it was eradicated in 1980.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 5, 2024
“We cannot remain indifferent to the grievous blows that have afflicted so many good Dominican homes...”
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
