Afflict

Pronunciation: /əˈflɪkt/

Definitions of afflict

verb to cause pain or suffering to; affect or trouble

Example Sentences

A1 The flu can afflict anyone, regardless of age.

A2 The drought has afflicted the farmers in the region, causing crop failures.

B1 The war has afflicted the entire country, leaving many people homeless and traumatized.

B2 The disease afflicting the population is spreading rapidly, causing concern among health officials.

C1 The economic downturn has afflicted businesses of all sizes, leading to widespread layoffs.

C2 The political unrest has afflicted the nation for years, leading to a state of constant turmoil.

Examples of afflict in a Sentence

formal The disease can afflict individuals of all ages.

informal I heard that the flu is going around and afflicting a lot of people.

slang I can't believe how badly that breakup afflicted him.

figurative The dark cloud of doubt continued to afflict her thoughts.

Grammatical Forms of afflict

• past tense: afflicted
• plural: afflicts
• comparative: more afflicted
• superlative: most afflicted
• present tense: afflicts
• future tense: will afflict
• perfect tense: has afflicted
• continuous tense: is afflicting
• singular: afflict
• positive degree: afflict
• infinitive: afflict
• gerund: afflicting
• participle: afflicting

Origin and Evolution of afflict

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'afflict' originated from the Latin word 'affligere' which means 'to strike down'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'afflict' has retained its meaning of causing pain or suffering, but its usage has expanded to include a broader range of situations and contexts.