English Reference

Word

afflicted

Phoneticsaf·flict·ed

US/əˈfɫɪktɪd/

UK/ɐflˈɪktɪd/

Definition

adj. suffering from a physical or mental problem, or being troubled by something very difficult.

adj. suffering from a disease, disability, or persistent distress. Often used predicatively after a linking verb or as a participial adjective modifying a noun.

Examples

“The country is afflicted by a severe drought.”

“Many elderly patients in this ward are afflicted with arthritis, making daily movement a significant challenge.”

“The region has been afflicted by decades of political instability, which has hindered the development of a robust infrastructure and a stable economy.”

Examples

simple

“The country is afflicted by a severe drought.”

contextual

“Many elderly patients in this ward are afflicted with arthritis, making daily movement a significant challenge.”

complex

“The region has been afflicted by decades of political instability, which has hindered the development of a robust infrastructure and a stable economy.”

Usage

Typically takes the preposition 'by' or 'with'.

Pitfall

He is afflicted from a cold

He is afflicted with a cold

Afflicted is paired with 'with' for diseases or 'by' for external troubles, but never 'from'.

Real-World Examples

“Scientists have long warned that climate change, driven by humanity's burning of fossil fuels, is making the extreme heat spells that have afflicted Europe longer, more intense and more frequent.”
The Local · 1 Sept 2026
“Gao’s family said he had fainted in detention and was afflicted with back, knee and respiratory problems.”
The Guardian · 25 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference