Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Grievously affected, especially by disease or suffering: Describes a person or living being who is suffering severely, often from illness, pain, or misfortune.
   • Mentally or physically distressed or troubled: Describes a state of being burdened, distressed, or in pain.

Usage

• The adjective afflicted is typically used to describe a person, group of people, or sometimes an area. It is often followed by the preposition "with" or "by" to indicate the cause of the suffering (e.g., afflicted a disease, afflicted poverty).
• It conveys a sense of serious, often ongoing, hardship or distress.

Examples

• The charity provides aid to villages afflicted by famine.
• She has been afflicted with arthritis for many years.
• He spoke with the voice of an afflicted conscience.
• The region was afflicted by a series of natural disasters.

Advanced Usage

• "To be afflicted with/by": This is the most common construction, used to specify the source of suffering.
  • The population was afflicted with a mysterious illness.
• Literary/Formal Use: The word can be used in a more formal or literary context to describe deep emotional or spiritual suffering.
  • The afflicted soul sought solace in prayer.

Variants and Related Words

• Afflict (verb): To cause pain, suffering, or distress to someone or something.
  • A severe drought afflicted the farmers.
• Affliction (noun): Something that causes pain or suffering; a state of pain, distress, or grief.
  • He bore his affliction with great courage.

Synonyms

• Troubled: Affected by problems or distress.
• Tormented: Experiencing severe physical or mental suffering.
• Stricken: Seriously affected by an undesirable condition or feeling.
• Plagued: Caused continual trouble or distress to.

Antonyms

• Blessed: Endowed with divine favor and protection; fortunate.
• Fortunate: Favored by or involving good luck.
• Untroubled: Not disturbed by problems or distress.

Adjective

1. mentally or physically unfit
2. grievously affected especially by disease