affliction C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas US /əˈflɪkʃən/ UK /əˈflɪkʃən/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun a cause of persistent pain, distress, or suffering Arthritis was the chief affliction of his later years. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · a cause of persistent pain,... sufferingdistressmiserytroubletormenttribulationscourgehardship ↔ Opposites comfortreliefsolaceblessingconsolation Word family Related forms afflictafflictiveinflict Etymology AI details From Old French affliction, from Latin afflictio, from affligere ('to dash down, distress'), from ad ('to') + fligere ('to strike'). afflictio Latin fligere Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # affliction **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /əˈflɪkʃən/ **IPA (UK):** /əˈflɪkʃən/ ## Meanings 1. a cause of persistent pain, distress, or suffering ## Examples - Arthritis was the chief affliction of his later years. ## Synonyms - suffering - distress - misery - trouble - torment - tribulation - scourge - hardship ## Antonyms - comfort - relief - solace - blessing - consolation ## Related Forms - afflict - afflictive - inflict ## Roots and Affixes - Root: afflictio - Root: fligere ## Etymology From Old French affliction, from Latin afflictio, from affligere ('to dash down, distress'), from ad ('to') + fligere ('to strike'). ## AI Etymology Affliction is from Old French affliction, from Latin afflictio, from affligere ('to dash down, distress'), from ad ('to') + fligere ('to strike'). In present-day use, it means a cause of persistent pain, distress, or suffering. Related vocabulary includes afflict, afflictive, and inflict. ## Topics - Abstract Ideas - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown