affliction
noun
af·flic·tion
ə-ˈflik-shən 
1
: a cause of persistent pain or distress
a mysterious affliction
2
: great suffering
felt empathy with their affliction
3
: the state of being afflicted by something that causes suffering
her affliction with polio
Examples of affliction in a Sentence
She lost her sight and is now learning to live with her affliction.
He died from a mysterious affliction.
Recent Examples on the Web
This affliction is ultimately among the most common causes of death for former bile bears, as the years of cruelty can never be fully erased.
—
Ryley Graham, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2025
Bruno Fernandes suffers from a similar affliction, taking more shots per 90 than both Zirkzee and Højlund (2.66) but from worse locations (like Garnacho, just 0.09 xG per shot).
—Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Freedom, and the afflictions of poverty and inequality, weighed heavily on the minds of Rancho Bernardo and Poway residents during the past couple of weeks.
—Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
This affliction largely evaporated with the passage of the 2017 tax law.
—William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affliction
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Ryley Graham, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2025
Bruno Fernandes suffers from a similar affliction, taking more shots per 90 than both Zirkzee and Højlund (2.66) but from worse locations (like Garnacho, just 0.09 xG per shot).
—Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Freedom, and the afflictions of poverty and inequality, weighed heavily on the minds of Rancho Bernardo and Poway residents during the past couple of weeks.
—Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
This affliction largely evaporated with the passage of the 2017 tax law.
—William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affliction
Cite this Entry
“Affliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affliction. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
affliction
noun
af·flic·tion
ə-ˈflik-shən
1
: the state of being afflicted
2
: something that causes pain or unhappiness
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