a state of pain, distress, or grief; misery: They sympathized with us in our affliction.
2.
a cause of mental or bodily pain, as sickness, loss, calamity, or persecution.
Origin: 1300–50;Middle Englishaffliccioun < Latinafflīctiōn- (stem of afflīctiō). See afflict, -ion
Related forms
af·flic·tion·less, adjective
o·ver·af·flic·tion, noun
pre·af·flic·tion, noun
Synonyms 2. mishap, trouble, tribulation, calamity, catastrophe, disaster. Affliction, adversity, misfortune, trial refer to an event or circumstance that is hard to bear. A misfortune is any adverse or unfavorable occurrence: He had the misfortune to break his leg.Affliction suggests not only a serious misfortune but the emotional effect of this: Blindness is an affliction.Adversity suggests a calamity or distress: Job remained patient despite all his adversities.Trial emphasizes the testing of one's character in undergoing misfortunes, trouble, etc.: His son's conduct was a great trial to him.