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Atrophy is a process by which parts of the body, such as muscles and organs, lessen in size or weaken in strength due to internal nerve damage, poor nutrition, or aging.
A bane is something that causes ruin, misery, or destruction.
If you are beset by something, you are experiencing serious problems or dangers because of it.
Something is a blight if it spoils or damages things severely; blight is often used to describe something that ruins or kills crops.
When you castigate someone, you criticize or punish them severely.
A convalescent person spends time resting to gain health and strength after a serious illness or operation.
Debility is a state of being physically or mentally weak, usually due to illness.
When someone feels disquiet about a situation, they feel very worried or nervous.
If something encumbers you, it makes it difficult for you to move freely or do what you want.
If you feel enervated, you feel very tired and weak—almost to the point of collapse.
An injury that is excruciating is extremely painful.
If a wound festers, it becomes infected, making it worse; if a problem or unpleasant feeling festers, it becomes worse because no attention has been paid to it.
If someone is imperturbable, they are always calm and not easily upset or disturbed by any situation, even dangerous ones.
A patient who is plagued by infirmity is weak in body or ill in health.
If you lacerate someone you cause him great distress and emotional hurt via harsh criticism
A malady is a serious illness; it can also be used to refer to serious and widespread problems within a society or an organization.
Malaise is a feeling of discontent, general unease, or even illness in a person or group for which there does not seem to be a quick and easy solution because the cause of it is not clear.
If you are in a plight, you are in trouble of some kind or in a state of unfortunate circumstances.
A salubrious place or area is pleasant, clean, healthy, and comfortable to live in.
Something salutary also promotes good health.
A scourge was originally a whip used for torture and now refers to something that torments or causes serious trouble or devastation.
To taint is to give an undesirable quality that damages a person’s reputation or otherwise spoils something.
Therapeutic treatment is used to heal or treat patients who have a disease or other ailment.
Severe problems, suffering, or difficulties experienced in a particular situation are all examples of tribulations.
To come out of something unscathed is to come out of it uninjured.
If a problem or situation is vexing, it means that it puzzles, worries, or annoys you.
Vicissitudes can be unexpected or simply normal changes and variations that happen during the course of people’s lives.
Noun
affliction
uh-FLIK-shuhn
Context
The affliction of the soldier’s old wound from the war painfully sharpened on stormy days. Not only did the affliction or physical hurt cause him much pain, but he was also tormented by the memories of personal loss that the ache recalled. Such affliction or distress was best lessened by the presence of his supportive family.
Quiz:Try again!
What is an affliction?
Reading about some very difficult times.
A condition of physical or mental distress.
Having no memory of something painful from the past.
Flicked Fly SmashedAflicked fly was afflicted by inconsiderate Ed, who then smashed it.
Examples
Man has to suffer. When he has no real afflictions, he invents some.
— Jose Marti
That is not a dismissive term; it merely means that they are shared by so many afflictions that they aren’t helpful in determining what is going on with the patient, and so more in-depth investigation is required.
—
Wired
The painful and sometimes fatal diver’s affliction called 'the bends' is caused by bubbles of nitrogen formed in the blood during a too quick ascent after a deep dive.
—
TIME
Mad, bad and dangerous to know Monetary folly is the latest affliction visited on North Korea’s people by the world’s worst government Register now and receive a 14-day premium pass.
—
The Economist
If one suffers from an affliction, one is “struck down or struck” by physical or emotional pain.
Word Theater
The Elephant Man His afflictions are observed by a group of astounded doctors.
The panel shows a small video clip of either the word in actual use or a scene that represents the meaning of a word. This not only breaks up the monotony of studying words but also provides another avenue to strengthen word meaning. Enjoy!
Word Constellation
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Related Words
atrophy ·
bane ·
beset ·
blight ·
castigate ·
debility ·
disquiet ·
encumber ·
enervate ·
excruciating+ ·
fester ·
infirmity+ ·
lacerate ·
malady ·
malaise ·
plight+ ·
scourge+ ·
taint ·
tribulation ·
vexing ·
vicissitude ·
convalescent ·
imperturbable ·
salubrious ·
salutary ·
therapeutic+ ·
unscathed ·
Similar sense
Opposite sense
Word Variants
afflict
v
→
to agonize or torment
The section lists important variants and alternate definitions of the headword. Knowing variants will often help you both remember and understand the word. Not all variants are listed - only the ones we think that are important for you to know.