afflicted
C1Formal, Literary, Journalistic
Definition
Meaning
Experiencing or suffering from something painful, distressing, or troublesome.
To be burdened by an ongoing condition, whether physical (illness), mental (grief, anxiety), social (poverty), or metaphorical (misfortune, bad luck). Often implies passive suffering rather than a single event.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Afflicted" often carries a formal or empathetic tone. It describes the state of the sufferer more than the agent causing the suffering. It is most commonly used adjectivally (the afflicted patient) or in passive constructions (afflicted by). The verb 'afflict' is the base form.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and meaning are virtually identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more common in formal writing (e.g., reports, news) in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency. Possibly slightly more prevalent in literary contexts in the UK.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be afflicted with [noun]be afflicted by [noun]afflict [someone/something] with [something]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The afflicted (used as a collective noun for sufferers)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; used metaphorically, e.g., 'The industry has been afflicted by supply chain issues.'
Academic
Common in medical, sociological, and humanitarian contexts, e.g., 'populations afflicted by famine.'
Everyday
Formal usage; used for serious conditions, e.g., 'He is afflicted with severe arthritis.'
Technical
Medical/psychological: describing patients or conditions, e.g., 'patients afflicted by the rare disease.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The village was afflicted by floods again this year.
- A mysterious illness afflicted the local cattle.
American English
- Drought has afflicted the southwestern states for a decade.
- He was afflicted with a sudden bout of anxiety.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The old man was afflicted with back pain.
- She felt afflicted by loneliness when she first moved.
- The region has been afflicted by political instability for years.
- Many animals in the sanctuary are afflicted with various disabilities.
- Historically, the peasantry was the most afflicted class during times of famine.
- The novel's protagonist is afflicted by a profound sense of existential doubt.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A FLICT-ion' – a fictional injury that causes suffering. The word 'afflicted' is like having a painful 'flict' (conflict) inside.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUFFERING IS A BURDEN / SUFFERING IS A PHYSICAL ATTACK. (e.g., 'afflicted with pain', 'afflicted by misfortune').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'заражать' (to infect). 'Afflict' is about suffering, not contagion.
- The adjective 'afflicted' often corresponds to 'страдающий (от)' rather than just 'больной' (ill).
- Avoid over-literal translation of the verb; it is more formal than 'мучить'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He afflicted from arthritis.' Correct: 'He is afflicted with/by arthritis.'
- Incorrect: 'It's an afflicting disease.' (Uncommon). Correct: 'It's an afflictive disease.' or 'It is a disease that afflicts people.'
- Confusing 'afflict' (cause suffering) with 'inflict' (impose something unpleasant).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'afflicted' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Afflict' means to cause suffering *to* someone/something (the sufferer is the object: 'Disease afflicts him'). 'Inflict' means to impose something unpleasant *on* someone (the unpleasant thing is the object: 'He inflicted pain on them').
It is typically used for serious, prolonged, or distressing conditions. Using it for minor issues (e.g., 'afflicted by a paper cut') sounds overly dramatic and incorrect.
It is primarily the past participle of the verb 'afflict'. However, it functions perfectly as an adjective (e.g., 'the afflicted patient'). Dictionaries list it as both a verb form and an adjective.
Primarily 'with' and 'by'. 'Afflicted with' often introduces the condition (disease, doubt). 'Afflicted by' often introduces the cause (misfortune, disaster). The distinction is subtle and they are often interchangeable.
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