Afflict: Definition, Examples, and Usage Guide

Meaning 1：cause suffering (afflict)

afflict 🔊

/əˈflɪkt/

vt.

Causing someone to suffer from something bad, like an illness, pain, or trouble.

Afflict meaning illustration showing an elderly person in pain

cause suffering 🔊

➕

/kɔːz ˈsʌfərɪŋ/

vt.

To cause someone to experience something unpleasant, such as illness, pain, or difficulty.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'afflictus', from 'ad-' (to) + 'fligere' (to strike).

💡 Mnemonic

A-FLICT sounds like 'a flick' - a painful flick causes suffering.

📖 Example

Severe migraines afflict him every day, making it hard to focus on work. 🔊 Severe migraines afflict him every day, making it hard to focus on work.

🔗 Collocations

afflict with – To cause someone to suffer from a particular disease or problem.

be afflicted by – To be suffering from something unpleasant or harmful.

afflict humanity – To cause widespread suffering to people.

🔄 Synonyms

torment (vt.) – To cause severe physical or mental suffering.

plague (vt.) – To cause continual trouble or distress to.

distress (vt.) – To cause someone anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

🚫 Antonyms

relieve (vt.) – To cause pain or difficulty to become less severe.

comfort (vt.) – To soothe or ease someone's suffering.

ease (vt.) – To make something less painful or difficult.

🌱 Derivatives

afflicted (adj.) – Suffering from something unpleasant.

affliction (n.) – Something that causes suffering.

afflicting (adj.) – Causing suffering or distress.

📖 Cultural Story

Originally 'strike down' in Latin. In the 16th century, it expanded to 'inflict suffering', often used in religious contexts for divine punishment.