afflictive

adjective

ə-ˈflik-tiv How to pronounce afflictive (audio)
Definition of afflictivenext
as in painful
causing or feeling bodily pain the afflictive disease known as shingles is a reactivation of the virus that causes chicken pox

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflictive
  1. painful
  2. sore
  3. aching
Adjective
  • Every defendant has the right to appeal, and our thoughts and prayers remain with the Metcalf family in the painful wake of last week's hearing.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The 55-year-old previously missed several weeks of the talk show amid recovery from painful gum surgery.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of painful
Adjective
  • But bring up the sore subject, and his eyes narrow, the jaw squares.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Everyone is banged up at this point in the season, particularly Willson Contreras, who’s been battling a sore hamstring but trying to stay on the field.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of sore
Adjective
  • The homestretch of the drama, however, takes the story in a chilling direction, packing an aching quantity of feeling into a single glance at a security camera as someone climbs into a car and leaves the compound, never to be heard from again.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026
  • Charles Frazier, Cold Mountain (1997) Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain is an aching, tender slow burn shaped by absence.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of aching
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

afflictions
afflictive
afflicts
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Cite this Entry

“Afflictive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflictive. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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