noun
affliction
uh-FLIK-shuhn/əˈflɪkʃn/
Painful suffering or hardship.
The person's painful knee is an affliction that makes resting necessary.
Etymology
The underlying image is being struck or dashed down, which became a way to describe suffering. The noun then shifted from pain or distress itself to something that causes it.
In context
… yet, alas! suffering from an affliction that rendered her life a tragedy. The realization of the terrible truth staggered me.
More examples
- Years of illness brought an affliction she rarely discussed.
- He regarded loneliness as his greatest affliction.
- The clinic treated many of the region's common afflictions.
Forms
affliction · afflictions
afflict verb — To cause someone pain or suffering.
Similar words
- hardship
- Often emphasizes difficult circumstances rather than illness or pain.
- ailment
- Specifically names a physical or mental health problem.