Meaning & use
Afflicting
Last updated
Present participle of 'afflict': causing pain, suffering, or distress to someone, often persistently.
See it in a sentence
A rare condition had been afflicting the patient for years before it was correctly diagnosed.
Drought and famine were afflicting the region long before the war began.
A note on using this word
Can also function as an adjective, as in 'an afflicting illness,' describing something that causes ongoing hardship.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
relievingsoothing
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Afflicting”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.