# afflicted

/əˈfɫɪktɪd/ (US) · /ɐflˈɪktɪd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/afflicted
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

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

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is afflicted from a cold" but "He is afflicted with a cold" — Afflicted is paired with 'with' for diseases or 'by' for external troubles, but never 'from'.

## Usage notes

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.