afflictions

IPA/əˈflɪk.ʃən/
KK[əflˈɪkʃənz]IPA/əˈflɪk.ʃən/

afflictions — noun

  • afflictionssingular
  • afflictionsesplural

1. a serious physical or mental problem, such as a disease, injury, or difficult li

1.nounB2
Definition

a serious physical or mental problem, such as a disease, injury, or difficult life situation, that brings someone long-lasting pain or trouble

Example

Yuna's grandmother suffered from several afflictions in her old age, including arthritis and poor eyesight.

collocation: suffer from afflictions

Drought and poverty are afflictions that affect millions of farming families across the region.

Common collocations
  • suffer from afflictions
  • cope with afflictions
  • chronic affliction
  • physical affliction
  • common affliction
Synonyms
  • ailment

    milder and usually limited to minor health problems rather than serious or lasting conditions

  • hardship

    focuses on difficult circumstances such as poverty or war, not on disease or injury

  • ordeal

    emphasises a single painful experience rather than a long-term problem

Antonyms
  • blessing

    something that brings happiness or good fortune, opposite of a cause of suffering

  • comfort

    a source of ease and relief, contrasting with a source of pain

Grammar Patterns

plural: afflictions

often preceded by 'suffer from' or 'cope with'

Usage Note

Common in formal, literary, or medical writing rather than everyday conversation. For minor or temporary problems, 'ailment', 'problem', or 'trouble' are more natural choices.

Common Mistakes

I have an affliction called a headache.
I have a headache.
'Affliction' suggests a serious, lasting problem; it sounds unnatural for minor or temporary conditions.

2. a condition or period in which someone experiences great physical or mental pain

2.nounB2
Definition

a condition or period in which someone experiences great physical or mental pain, unhappiness, or difficulty

Example

The documentary showed the real affliction of families who lost their homes in the earthquake.

pattern: the affliction of [people]

Caio spoke quietly about the affliction he felt after his brother's sudden death.

Common collocations
  • in affliction
  • the affliction of poverty
  • emotional affliction
  • ease the affliction
  • bring affliction
Synonyms
  • suffering

    more common in everyday language; less formal and covers a broader range of pain

  • distress

    emphasises mental anguish and worry more than physical pain

  • misery

    stronger emotional tone, suggesting deep unhappiness over time

Antonyms
  • well-being

    a positive state of health, happiness, and comfort

  • relief

    the removal or lessening of pain and distress

Grammar Patterns

the affliction of + noun phrase

in affliction

Usage Note

When referring to a general state of suffering, the singular form 'affliction' is more common. The word appears frequently in literary, humanitarian, and religious contexts.

Common Mistakes

She was in great afflictions after the accident.
She was in great affliction after the accident.
When 'affliction' means a state of suffering, it is usually uncountable and stays singular.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to something unpleasant that a person experiences, but they differ in severity and scope. 'Affliction' suggests a serious, often long-term source of suffering — it can be a disease, a disability, or a difficult life situation. 'Ailment' is milder and almost always refers to a minor health problem, such as a cold or a headache. 'Hardship' describes difficult external circumstances such as poverty, unemployment, or lack of housing, rather than a physical or mental condition. 'Ordeal' emphasises a single, intensely painful experience (for example, a long hospital stay or a dangerous journey) rather than an ongoing state. Someone might describe cancer as an affliction, a backache as an ailment, losing their job as a hardship, and a gruelling surgery as an ordeal.

affliction ↗ailment ↗hardship ↗ordeal ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • suffer from an affliction
  • cope with affliction
  • ease the affliction
  • bring affliction upon

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'affliction' comes from Latin 'afflictio', meaning 'a striking down' or 'damage'. This was formed from the verb 'affligere' (to strike down, to damage, to harass), which combined 'ad-' (to, towards) with 'fligere' (to strike). The word entered English through Old French in the 14th century, originally keeping the sense of a physical blow or misfortune, and later broadened to include mental and emotional suffering.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3