afflict Definition
- 1to cause pain or suffering to someone or something
- 2to affect someone or something in an unpleasant way
Using afflict: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "afflict" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The disease afflicts millions of people worldwide.
Example
She was afflicted with a rare genetic disorder.
Example
The region has been afflicted by drought for several years.
afflict Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with afflict
Example
The country is afflicted with high levels of poverty and unemployment.
afflict someone's conscience
to cause someone to feel guilty or remorseful about something
Example
His actions afflicted his conscience for years afterwards.
a deep emotional or spiritual pain or suffering
Example
The loss of her child was an affliction of the soul that she never fully recovered from.
Origins of afflict
from Latin 'afflictus', past participle of 'affligere', meaning 'to dash down'
Summary: afflict in Brief
'Afflict' [uh-flikt] means to cause pain or suffering, or to affect someone or something in an unpleasant way. It is often used to describe diseases or other conditions that cause physical or emotional distress. Phrases like 'afflict with' and 'affliction of the soul' further illustrate the ways in which this verb can be used.
