Definition of afflictivenext

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for afflictive
Adjective
  • And that says something painful about what my country has become, and my place in it.
    Dawn M. Turner, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • For thousands of Venezuelans, however, the absence of definitive answers has become one of the tragedy’s most painful consequences.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
Adjective
  • Also Wednesday, the team scratched shortstop Mookie Betts from the starting lineup because of a sore right wrist.
    Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Guests who get after it on Vail’s ski slopes and hiking and biking trails can book a CBD massage or pop into the self-care lounge and soothe sore muscles with Hyperice massage guns and Normatec leg compression sleeves.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
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
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

Cite this Entry

“Afflictive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/afflictive. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster