Meaning & use

affliction

noun·Academic

A condition or experience that causes ongoing pain, suffering, or hardship.

See it in a sentence

The new medicine offered him little relief from his chronic, painful affliction.

Poverty remains a widespread affliction in many parts of the world.

A note on using this word

Affliction can describe both physical illnesses and broader hardships, such as poverty or grief, and often suggests a burden endured over time.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

relief

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