What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
afflict
Example
The country was afflicted by a severe drought. [afflicted: past participle]
Example
The disease afflicts millions of people worldwide. [afflicts: verb]
distress
Example
The news of her father's death caused her great distress. [distress: noun]
Example
The family was distressed by the sudden loss of their home in a fire. [distressed: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Distress is more commonly used than afflict in everyday language. Distress is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while afflict is less common and typically used in more formal or medical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between afflict and distress?
Afflict is more formal than distress. It is often used in medical or technical contexts, while distress can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
