afflicting
Bringing pain upon
Afflicting is causing pain, distress, or suffering.
The word typically describes ongoing conditions rather than sudden injuries—diseases afflict populations, grief afflicts the bereaved, drought afflicts farmers.
A mysterious illness was afflicting the village.
What afflicts tends to be enduring and burdensome rather than fleeting.
Deliberate infliction of suffering
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
victimization · oppression · tyranny · vexation · tormenting · plaguing · hounding · taunting
Bodily or emotional distress
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
- miseryIntense prolonged distress
- distressSevere anxiety or suffering
torment · grief · sorrow · woe · hardship · tribulation · ordeal · adversity
State of poor health
- maladyA bodily affliction
- ailmentMinor health problem
- sicknessBodily disorder or disease
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
plague · epidemic · pandemic · contagion · fever · inflammation · pathogen · virus
Causing loss or injury
- injuriousCausing physical harm
- detrimentalCausing harm or damage
- destructiveCausing severe harm
- perniciousGradually and subtly harmful
ruinous · deleterious · corrosive · debilitating · crippling · devastating · ravaging · blighting
Measure of heaviness
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- strainExcessive stretching force
- pressureForce upon contact
- encumbranceHindrance or legal claim
yoke · millstone · onus · heaviness · load · albatross · shackle · obligation
torture
Deliberate infliction of suffering
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
abuse · victimization · oppression · tyranny · vexation · tormenting · plaguing · hounding · taunting · besetting
pain
Bodily or emotional distress
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
- miseryIntense prolonged distress
distress · torment · grief · sorrow · woe · hardship · tribulation · ordeal · adversity · trauma
illness
State of poor health
infection · plague · epidemic · pandemic · contagion · fever · inflammation · pathogen · virus · syndrome
damaging
Causing loss or injury
- injuriousCausing physical harm
- detrimentalCausing harm or damage
- destructiveCausing severe harm
pernicious · ruinous · deleterious · corrosive · debilitating · crippling · devastating · ravaging · blighting · wounding
weight
Measure of heaviness
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- strainExcessive stretching force
- pressureForce upon contact
encumbrance · yoke · millstone · onus · heaviness · load · albatross · shackle · obligation · crushing
afflictinghealing
Restoration of health
soothing · relieving · curing · alleviating · easing
afflictingcomforting
Giving emotional ease
consoling · cheering · uplifting · calming · heartening