Explanation at your level:
This word is very serious. You use it when someone is very sick or has a big problem. We say, 'The disease afflicts many people.' It means the people are hurting or have a hard life because of the sickness.
When you say someone is afflicted, it means they have a long-term problem. It could be a sickness or a sad situation. For example, 'He is afflicted with a bad cough.' It is a formal word, so use it when you are writing or speaking seriously.
Afflict is used to describe persistent suffering. It is often used in news or reports about health issues. For instance, 'The region is afflicted by drought.' It implies that the problem is not going away quickly and is causing real trouble for those involved.
In this level, you will see afflict used to describe abstract problems as well as physical ones. You might hear about a society afflicted by corruption or a person afflicted by indecision. It is a powerful verb that highlights the weight of a burden on a subject.
At the advanced level, afflict is frequently used in academic and literary contexts. It suggests a sense of inevitability or deep-seated struggle. Authors often use it to characterize a protagonist's internal conflict or a civilization's systemic failure. It carries a nuance of 'being struck down' by forces beyond one's control.
Mastery of afflict involves understanding its etymological roots—the Latin affligere—which implies a crushing blow. In C2 writing, it is used to evoke empathy or to highlight the gravity of a situation. It is a precise word that elevates the tone of a sentence, distinguishing a 'problem' from a 'condition that causes suffering.' It is rarely used in lighthearted contexts, and its usage should be reserved for scenarios where the weight of the situation is significant.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Afflict means to cause persistent suffering.
- It is almost always used in formal or serious contexts.
- It is commonly used in the passive voice (e.g., 'afflicted with').
- Do not confuse it with 'inflict' (to cause).
When we use the word afflict, we are usually talking about something serious. It isn't just a minor annoyance like a stubbed toe; it implies a deeper, more persistent struggle. You will often hear it used when discussing health, such as a disease that afflicts a population.
Because it carries a heavy, negative weight, afflict is rarely used in casual, happy conversation. It is a word that demands a bit of gravity. If you say someone is afflicted by something, you are describing a state of being where they are stuck dealing with a difficult circumstance that they cannot easily escape.
The word afflict has a fascinating history rooted in Latin. It comes from the word afflictare, which means 'to damage' or 'to crush.' This is a frequentative form of affligere, meaning 'to strike down.' You can see the connection to the idea of being hit or beaten by life's challenges.
It entered the English language in the 14th century through Old French. Back then, it carried a slightly broader meaning of physical striking, but over the centuries, it evolved to focus more on the emotional or medical suffering that persists over time. It is a great example of how words shift from literal, physical actions to more abstract, internal experiences.
You will almost always see afflict used in formal or literary contexts. It is a common word in medical journals, news reports about crises, and historical accounts. Because it is a high-register word, you wouldn't use it to describe a bad day at school.
Common collocations include afflicted by/with a disease, afflicted by poverty, or afflicted with a disability. Notice the prepositions: we usually use with when talking about a specific condition or illness, and by when talking about a broader set of circumstances or external forces.
While afflict itself isn't the core of many common idioms, it is often used in descriptive phrases that function like them. 1. Afflicted with the travel bug (a playful way to say someone loves to travel). 2. Afflicted by a guilty conscience (feeling deep regret). 3. Afflicted with silence (unable to speak due to shock). 4. Afflicted by the passage of time (showing signs of aging). 5. Afflicted by doubt (being unable to make a decision).
Afflict is a regular verb. Its forms are afflicts (present), afflicted (past/past participle), and afflicting (present participle). It is almost always a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object: 'The drought afflicts the region.' It is very common in the passive voice: 'She is afflicted with arthritis.'
The pronunciation is /əˈflɪkt/. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with conflict (when used as a verb), predict, and addict. Be careful not to stress the first syllable, as that can make it sound like the noun form of 'conflict.'
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'conflict', which also involves a 'striking' action.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear stress on the second syllable.
Similar to UK, clear 'flikt' sound.
Common Errors
- Stressing the first syllable
- Pronouncing 'ct' as 't'
- Confusing with 'conflict'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Formal vocabulary
Requires precise usage
Formal register
Common in news
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Passive Voice
He is afflicted by the flu.
Subject-Verb Agreement
The illness afflicts him.
Prepositional Phrases
Afflicted with pain.
Examples by Level
The flu afflicts many people in winter.
flu = sickness
Simple present
He is afflicted by a cold.
cold = minor sickness
Passive voice
Many are afflicted by pain.
pain = hurt
Passive voice
The sickness afflicts the town.
town = place
Active voice
She is afflicted with sadness.
sadness = feeling
Passive voice
What afflicts him today?
him = the boy
Question form
The disease afflicts the body.
body = physical self
Active voice
They are afflicted by hunger.
hunger = no food
Passive voice
The drought afflicts the farmers.
He is afflicted with a rare condition.
Many people are afflicted by poverty.
The problem afflicts the whole team.
She was afflicted by a terrible headache.
The virus afflicts the elderly.
Is he afflicted by this issue?
The area is afflicted by floods.
The country is afflicted by constant war.
He has been afflicted with insomnia for years.
The disease afflicts the nervous system.
She is afflicted by a sense of deep regret.
The village is afflicted by a lack of resources.
Many are afflicted by the rising costs of living.
The situation afflicts everyone involved.
He is afflicted with a chronic back pain.
The city is afflicted by systemic corruption.
She is afflicted with a paralyzing fear of failure.
The population is afflicted by a mysterious ailment.
He is afflicted by a melancholic temperament.
The region is afflicted by recurring natural disasters.
They are afflicted by the burden of their past.
The project is afflicted by constant delays.
He is afflicted with a strange, recurring dream.
The nation is afflicted by a crisis of identity.
He is afflicted by the weight of his own ambition.
The community is afflicted by a legacy of injustice.
She is afflicted with a profound existential dread.
The industry is afflicted by a lack of innovation.
The landscape is afflicted by industrial decay.
He is afflicted by a restless spirit.
The society is afflicted by extreme polarization.
The protagonist is afflicted by a tragic flaw.
The empire was afflicted by internal strife.
He is afflicted with a chronic inability to trust.
The ecosystem is afflicted by human encroachment.
The narrative is afflicted by a lack of cohesion.
They are afflicted by the ghosts of their history.
The institution is afflicted by bureaucratic inertia.
He is afflicted with a singular, consuming obsession.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"afflicted with the travel bug"
having a strong desire to travel
Ever since her first trip, she has been afflicted with the travel bug.
casual"afflicted by a guilty conscience"
feeling deep regret
He was afflicted by a guilty conscience after lying.
formal"afflicted with silence"
unable to speak
The room was afflicted with silence during the funeral.
literary"afflicted by time"
getting old
The old house was afflicted by time.
literary"afflicted by curiosity"
very eager to know
She was afflicted by curiosity about the package.
casual"afflicted with a bad habit"
unable to stop a habit
He is afflicted with the habit of biting his nails.
neutralEasily Confused
similar spelling
inflict is active causing, afflict is passive suffering
He inflicted pain; he was afflicted by pain.
similar sound
affect is to influence, afflict is to cause suffering
The weather affected my mood; the disease afflicted my body.
same rhyme
conflict is a disagreement, afflict is suffering
They had a conflict; they were afflicted by war.
similar start
affluence is wealth, afflict is suffering
His affluence grew; he was afflicted by greed.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is/are + afflicted + with/by + Object
He is afflicted with a cold.
Subject (disease) + afflicts + Object
The flu afflicts the elderly.
Subject + has been + afflicted + by + Object
The city has been afflicted by crime.
It + is + the + thing + that + afflicts + us
It is poverty that afflicts us.
Being + afflicted + by + Object + is + hard
Being afflicted by doubt is hard.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
6/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Afflict is for serious suffering, not small irritations.
Inflict is the act of causing; afflict is the state of suffering.
Afflict is a verb only.
Don't use 'to' or 'at'.
It sounds too formal for daily chat.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a 'flick' of a whip causing pain.
Formal Writing
Use it in essays to sound more precise.
Medical Contexts
It's standard in health reports.
Passive Voice
Remember to use 'be' + 'afflicted' + 'by/with'.
Stress
Hit the second syllable hard.
Don't confuse with inflict
Afflict = suffer; Inflict = cause.
Latin Roots
It means to strike down.
Flashcards
Pair it with 'disease' and 'poverty'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
A-FLI-CT: A FLIght (of pain) in a CT (scan).
Visual Association
Someone lying in bed with a heavy dark cloud over them.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about a character in a book who is afflicted by a secret.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: to strike down
Cultural Context
Can be sensitive when discussing real illnesses; use with care.
Used in formal news, medical contexts, and literature.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Medical reports
- afflicted with a condition
- afflicted by symptoms
- severely afflicted
News/Journalism
- afflicted by disaster
- afflicted by famine
- region afflicted by war
Literature
- afflicted by regret
- afflicted by fate
- afflicted by silence
Academic writing
- systemically afflicted
- chronically afflicted
- afflicted by issues
Conversation Starters
"What kind of problems often afflict large cities?"
"Do you think modern life has things that afflict our mental health?"
"How would you describe someone who is afflicted by a difficult life?"
"Can you think of a historical event where a population was afflicted by disease?"
"Why do you think we use the word 'afflict' for serious things only?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you felt afflicted by a difficult situation.
Describe a character who is afflicted by a secret.
How can society help those who are afflicted by poverty?
Reflect on the difference between being 'bothered' and being 'afflicted'.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo. Afflict is to suffer from; inflict is to cause something to happen to someone else.
Yes, but it sounds very formal.
No, it is almost exclusively negative.
uh-FLIKT.
It is common in formal writing but less so in daily speech.
Yes, it is a transitive verb.
Affliction.
Yes, it can afflict a whole population.
Test Yourself
The sickness ___ the people.
Subject-verb agreement.
Which means to suffer?
Afflict relates to suffering.
Afflict is a noun.
It is a verb.
Word
Meaning
Verb vs Noun.
Passive voice structure.
Score: /5
Summary
Afflict is a formal verb used to describe deep, persistent suffering or a serious condition.
- Afflict means to cause persistent suffering.
- It is almost always used in formal or serious contexts.
- It is commonly used in the passive voice (e.g., 'afflicted with').
- Do not confuse it with 'inflict' (to cause).
Memory Palace
Imagine a 'flick' of a whip causing pain.
Formal Writing
Use it in essays to sound more precise.
Medical Contexts
It's standard in health reports.
Passive Voice
Remember to use 'be' + 'afflicted' + 'by/with'.
Example
The family was afflicted by a series of unfortunate events throughout the year.
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