affliction

UK: /əˈflɪkʃ^ən/ US: (ə flik′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

af•flic•tion  (ə flik′shən), n. 

1. 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.

• Latin afflīctiōn- (stem of afflīctiō). See afflict, -ion
• Middle English affliccioun 1300–50

af•flic′tion•less, adj. 
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.

Antonyms

• 1. relief, comfort, solace.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

affliction / əˈflɪkʃən/ noun

1. a condition of great distress, pain, or suffering
2. something responsible for physical or mental suffering, such as a disease, grief, etc