afflict
Bring pain upon
To afflict is to cause persistent pain, suffering, or distress.
Diseases afflict the body; guilt afflicts the conscience; poverty afflicts communities.
The word implies ongoing burden rather than momentary harm: She was afflicted with chronic migraines.
What afflicts someone weighs on them—troubles that don't quickly pass.
Harass cruelly, persistently
- oppressUnjustly burden or dominate
- harassPersistently torment someone
- plagueDeadly epidemic disease
- bedevilTo persistently torment
beset · scourge · vex · torture · rack · crucify · agonize · ravage
Intense sorrow from loss
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- despairTotal absence of hope
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
- traumaLasting psychological wound
agony · misery · woe · suffering · lamentation · mourning · desolation · hopelessness
Disorder impairing normal function
- ailmentMinor health problem
- disorderAbsence of organization
- syndromeLinked symptoms forming pattern
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
sickness · malady · epidemic · pandemic · plague · fever · inflammation · chronic
Severe lack of resources
- famineSevere food shortage
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
- displacementRemoval from usual location
- homelessnessLacking permanent residence
privation · destitution · scarcity · want · austerity · penury · neediness · shortage
Measure of heaviness
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- yokeCrosspiece binding draft animals
- encumbranceHindrance or legal claim
- strainExcessive stretching force
millstone · albatross · onus · heaviness · shackle · load · obligation · deadweight
persecute
Harass cruelly, persistently
bedevil · beset · scourge · vex · torture · rack · crucify · agonize · ravage · curse
grief
Intense sorrow from loss
trauma · agony · misery · woe · suffering · lamentation · mourning · desolation · hopelessness · melancholy
disease
Disorder impairing normal function
infection · sickness · malady · epidemic · pandemic · plague · fever · inflammation · chronic · debilitating
poverty
Severe lack of resources
- famineSevere food shortage
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
- displacementRemoval from usual location
homelessness · privation · destitution · scarcity · want · austerity · penury · neediness · shortage · starvation
weight
Measure of heaviness
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- yokeCrosspiece binding draft animals
- encumbranceHindrance or legal claim
strain · millstone · albatross · onus · heaviness · shackle · load · obligation · deadweight · drag
affliction, afflicted, afflicting, afflicts, afflictions, afflictive, unafflicted