affliction
Burden of pain
Affliction is suffering or distress, or the condition causing it.
The word carries weight—afflictions are serious troubles, not minor inconveniences: chronic pain was her greatest affliction, the afflictions of poverty.
Disease, grief, and hardship are typical afflictions.
The word often appears in religious or literary contexts, suggesting trials to be endured.
Bodily or emotional distress
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- distressSevere anxiety or suffering
trauma · misery · woe · tribulation · ordeal · tormented · agonized · discomfort
Disorder impairing normal function
- maladyA bodily affliction
- ailmentMinor health problem
- sicknessBodily disorder or disease
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
syndrome · pathology · epidemic · plague · chronic · condition · inflammation · fever
Unjust exercise of power
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- victimizationBeing made to suffer
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
injustice · maltreatment · abuse · mistreatment · scapegoating · martyrdom · cruelty · tormentor
Severe difficulty or suffering
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
- privationLack of necessities
- povertySevere lack of resources
- deprivationState of lacking necessities
struggle · calamity · disaster · trial · tribulation · penury · destitution · want
Malevolent incantation
- jinxCurse bringing misfortune
- maledictionVerbal invocation of harm
- baneCause of destruction
- scourgeCause of mass suffering
plague · blight · evil eye · damnation · bewitchment · voodoo · enchantment · spell
Deep emotional distress
- mourningPeriod following loss
- bereavementState following loss
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
- lossBeing without something
despair · melancholy · lamentation · sadness · heartbreak · desolation · tears · grieving
Measure of heaviness
- yokeCrosspiece binding draft animals
- crossPass from side to side
- onusResponsibility one bears
- encumbranceHindrance or legal claim
strain · load · albatross · millstone · heaviness · responsibility · obligation · trial
pain
Bodily or emotional distress
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- anguishIntense mental suffering
distress · trauma · misery · woe · tribulation · ordeal · tormented · agonized · discomfort · hurt
disease
Disorder impairing normal function
infection · syndrome · pathology · epidemic · plague · chronic · condition · inflammation · fever · disorder
oppression
Unjust exercise of power
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- victimizationBeing made to suffer
discrimination · injustice · maltreatment · abuse · mistreatment · scapegoating · martyrdom · cruelty · tormentor · inhumanity
adversity
Severe difficulty or suffering
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
- privationLack of necessities
- povertySevere lack of resources
deprivation · struggle · calamity · disaster · trial · tribulation · penury · destitution · want · scarcity
hex
Malevolent incantation
- jinxCurse bringing misfortune
- maledictionVerbal invocation of harm
- baneCause of destruction
scourge · plague · blight · evil eye · damnation · bewitchment · voodoo · enchantment · spell · hoodoo
sorrow
Deep emotional distress
- mourningPeriod following loss
- bereavementState following loss
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
loss · despair · melancholy · lamentation · sadness · heartbreak · desolation · tears · grieving · dejection
weight
Measure of heaviness
encumbrance · strain · load · albatross · millstone · heaviness · responsibility · obligation · trial · ordeal
afflictionbliss
Perfect, serene felicity
joy · happiness · felicity · well-being · blessedness