afflicted 1 of 2

afflicted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of afflict

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of afflicted
Adjective
The afflicted man instead went to a Dawson hospital, where he was fed only raw potatoes and charged $10 a day for the privilege. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 12 June 2022 For nearly five years, the lingering hope of the pundit class (and, notably, the Biden campaign) was that the Trump fever would eventually burn itself out and those so afflicted would awake from its throes eager to be normal again. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 6 Jan. 2022 Regarding Cuba now, there seems to be an additional Russian objective: weakening U.S. and Canadian intelligence on the island by forcing the evacuation of afflicted spies and diplomatic personnel. Néstor T. Carbonell, National Review, 12 Apr. 2021 Some of the bikers pouring into the area are coming from distant states far more afflicted. CBS News, 10 Aug. 2020 Kroger officials said McMullen had planned to remove his mask for the event, which was not attended by Pence's afflicted press secretary Katie Miller who stayed in Washington. Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati.com, 11 May 2020 Symptoms of the illness are similar to pneumonia, although videos have been posted that purportedly show afflicted people collapsing on the street, bleeding from their mouths, and being treated by doctors wearing hazmat suits. Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, 25 Jan. 2020 Mealy bugs can be a real problem, not just for the afflicted plant but for neighboring, healthy houseplants. Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2019 Making a compelling financial case to fight climate change and to help the most afflicted demands a rigorous accounting of its effects. Umair Irfan, Vox, 9 Oct. 2018
Verb
Ringo was yellow submarines and octopus gardens, the mascot little brother, despite being the eldest Beatle, and the best at flittering above the feuds that afflicted the trio of geniuses around him. Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2025 Unfortunately, this fresh ailment has afflicted him for the majority of his 2024-25 run. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025 The 73-year-old woman’s husband, who is afflicted with dementia and uses a wheelchair, was not able to help, and Echelbarger succumbed to her injuries. Laura Barcella, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025 Most of the United States’ Northeastern states would be among the more afflicted, as would be the Great Lakes region. Katharina Buchholz, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 In a state and city so afflicted by the culture of corruption, as the Tribune reported exhaustively last year in a series of pieces tracing our sordid history, federal prosecutors have played an indispensable role in unearthing these stories and making our politicians pay for abusing their offices. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025 For several reasons, women tend to be most afflicted. Stacey Colino, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025 In pulling off the balance between the morbid premise and the humanity of the character afflicted by it, director Rashida Jones relies on Erivo’s ability to get across the panic and dread of the situation with the subtlest of brush strokes. Sezin Koehler, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2025 This, in turn, led to waves of protest and a series of arsons that afflicted 24 churches over the next two years. The Editors, National Review, 28 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflicted
Adjective
  • Mark Pellington directs the conspiracy thriller about a troubled vet (Gladstone) struggling with addiction who is recruited by a contractor (Cranston) for a covert government plot to assassinate a high-level politician.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Believe it or not, the film's director James Hawes insists Bernthal's secret agent code name was not an intentional call-out to his current run as the late, troubled, elder Berzatto brother Mikey on TV.
    Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Studies have found that the closures of local branches by larger and smaller banks across the U.S. have a disproportionate negative effect on those living in the country's rural areas, disabled people, individuals on low-income, and racially diverse communities.
    John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The license is not required for Illinois residents who have a disability and a State of Illinois disabled ID card showing a Class 2 or 2A disability; have a Veterans Disability Card; or are residents on active military duty who are home on leave.
    Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Maresca’s post-match insistence that the Frenchman’s struggles are not down to a lack of effort felt as feeble and unconvincing as the sum of his contribution over 45 listless first-half minutes.
    Liam Twomey, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Salvi’s wife, Kathy, current chair of the statewide GOP, has the unenviable task of trying to rebuild what is a feeble Republican Party in deep-blue Illinois.
    Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In recent months, the Kennedy Center has been besieged by performance cancelations both voluntary and involuntary.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2025
  • At the start of the invasion, Russian troops besieged the city, forcing residents to endure harsh winter conditions without electricity or water under constant shelling from Russian artillery, missiles and drones.
    Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • They’re designed for Americans that are struggling, that are below the poverty line, or that are infirm, that can’t work and afford health care.
    Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 9 Mar. 2025
  • In place of lockdowns, the statement contended, the nation could simply let infections spread among most of the population while the old and infirm remained in relative isolation.
    Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • An exception to clean-up delay or avoidance would be the prompt removal of last year’s diseased leaves or branches, if a particular plant suffered from heavy damage or dieback.
    Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2025
  • For example, aged or diseased animals are not welcome, and an adult male usually anchors the scene as the apex of its kind.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • However, there is no formal provision in canon law for an incapacitated pope, and there are no current signs that Francis is unable to govern.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
  • But there is no precedent for forcibly removing an incapacitated member who had taken the oath of office that Congress.
    Emily Brooks, The Hill, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • But does that mean that vegans are going against human’s evolutionary history and are bound to be weak, sickly, and even stupid?
    Marianne Krasny, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The collection of slab-like columns by Derek McLane, lit in sickly, sullen colors by Natasha Katz, could be anywhere.
    Jesse Green, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Afflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflicted. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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