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
The affliction is incurable, but Kevin treated his audience to detailed accountings of his treatments and of the status of his health, often with good humor, after he was first diagnosed in 2014.
—
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025
In the genre, the Central American auteur found a piercing vehicle to discuss the sociopolitical afflictions of his homeland.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
From Hillary Clinton’s private email server to disappearing messages on encrypted apps during the Trump era, the erosion of formal communication protocols has become a bipartisan affliction.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Now, the two pair their boundary-less creative freedom and turn it toward providing a mirror to modern-day afflictions, on this brooding look at mental health and depression.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affliction
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Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025
In the genre, the Central American auteur found a piercing vehicle to discuss the sociopolitical afflictions of his homeland.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
From Hillary Clinton’s private email server to disappearing messages on encrypted apps during the Trump era, the erosion of formal communication protocols has become a bipartisan affliction.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Now, the two pair their boundary-less creative freedom and turn it toward providing a mirror to modern-day afflictions, on this brooding look at mental health and depression.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 10 Mar. 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 11 Apr. 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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