Affliction: meaning, definitions and examples

😢
Add to dictionary

affliction

 

[ əˈflɪkʃ(ə)n ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

mental health

A condition of persistent physical, emotional, or mental distress, often associated with a specific disease or injury.

Synonyms

ailment, condition, malady

Examples of usage

  • She has been living with a chronic affliction for years.
  • The affliction caused him great pain and suffering.
Context #2 | Noun

literature

A cause of great suffering and distress.

Synonyms

burden, misfortune, plague

Examples of usage

  • The protagonist's tragic past was an affliction that haunted him.
  • The war was an affliction that affected the entire nation.
Context #3 | Noun

religion

A condition of suffering seen as a punishment or test from a higher power.

Synonyms

chastisement, trial, tribulation

Examples of usage

  • The belief that the affliction was a trial from God gave her strength.

Translations

Translations of the word "affliction" in other languages:

🇵🇹 aflição

🇮🇳 कष्ट

🇩🇪 Leiden

🇮🇩 penderitaan

🇺🇦 страждання

🇵🇱 cierpienie

🇯🇵 苦痛 (くつう)

🇫🇷 affliction

🇪🇸 aflicción

🇹🇷 ızdırap

🇰🇷 고통 (gotong)

🇸🇦 معاناة

🇨🇿 utrpení

🇸🇰 utrpenie

🇨🇳 痛苦 (tòngkǔ)

🇸🇮 trpljenje

🇮🇸 þjáning

🇰🇿 азап

🇬🇪 ტანჯვა

🇦🇿 əzab

🇲🇽 aflicción

Word origin

The word 'affliction' originated from the Latin word 'afflictio', meaning 'a striking down'. The concept of affliction has been present throughout human history, often associated with disease, suffering, and punishment. In literature and religious texts, affliction is a common theme symbolizing hardship and struggle. Over time, the word has evolved to encompass a wide range of physical, emotional, and spiritual distress.

See also: afflict.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,249, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.