be afflicted with

USAGE SUMMARY

"be afflicted with" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to suffer from or experience something negative or unpleasant. Some examples of using this phrase in a sentence are: - He was afflicted with a rare disease that left him bedridden for months. - The region is often afflicted with severe droughts, causing widespread crop failures. - She has always been afflicted with a fear of heights, making it difficult for her to enjoy outdoor activities. - The town is currently afflicted with a high unemployment rate, leading to widespread poverty. - The family was deeply saddened to learn that their teenage son had been afflicted with a serious addiction to drugs.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

In other words, we'll be afflicted with arthritis.

The New York Times

And one third will conquer them; they will never be afflicted with sorrow.

The Guardian

I also seem to be afflicted with "Bad Parsing Syndrome" today.

The New York Times

She claimed to be "afflicted with pain and suffering and emotional distress".

The New York Times

To be watched at all times, especially when doing nothing seriously wrong, is to be afflicted with a creepy feeling.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, we, the salivating public, might be afflicted with a little holiday disease of our own: Sucker Syndrome.

The New York Times - Tech

Those of us unfortunate enough to be afflicted with idiocy are not grotesque caricatures or figures of fun.

The New Yorker

Was part of your aim to encourage your readers to rethink the ways in which they or people they know might be afflicted with irrational thinking?

The New Yorker

And you must be afflicted with an enthusiasm for punctuation that borders on fetish, in order to make people read as they sound.

The New York Times

The mother may have discovered the pregnancy too late to take action, or either parent may be afflicted with a mental disorder.

The New York Times

It is the 20th state where bats have been found to be afflicted with the fungus since it was first detected in New York in 2006.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be afflicted with" when emphasizing the negative impact and suffering caused by a disease, condition, or problem.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive voice when using "be afflicted with". Ensure the sentence structure clearly identifies the subject experiencing the affliction to maintain clarity and impact. For example, instead of "Problems can be afflicted with a project", write "A project can be afflicted with problems".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be afflicted with" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of suffering or being burdened by something negative, such as a disease, condition, or problem. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be afflicted with" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe suffering or being burdened by a negative condition, according to Ludwig AI. It's prevalent in neutral to formal contexts like news, science, and general informative writing. While similar to phrases like "suffer from" and "be stricken with", it specifically emphasizes the negative impact and suffering caused. When using "be afflicted with", ensure clear sentence structure by avoiding overuse of passive voice to maintain clarity. The high frequency of examples in Ludwig demonstrates its widespread use and reliability in conveying the presence of negative conditions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suffer from

Focuses on the experience of pain or distress, whether physical or emotional.

be stricken with

Implies a sudden and often severe onset of a disease or misfortune.

be burdened by

Suggests a heavy load of responsibility, grief, or obligation.

be troubled by

Indicates a state of worry or unease caused by something.

be cursed with

Conveys a sense of misfortune or fate, often associated with negative traits.

be plagued by

Describes a persistent and troublesome problem or annoyance.

fall victim to

Highlights the experience of being harmed or negatively affected by something.

labor under

Implies working or struggling under difficult conditions or constraints.

be subject to

Indicates a vulnerability or susceptibility to something, often undesirable.

be prone to

Suggests a natural tendency or inclination towards something negative.

FAQs

How can I use "be afflicted with" in a sentence?

Use "be afflicted with" to describe someone or something suffering from a negative condition or disease. For example, "The town was be afflicted with poverty" or "He was be afflicted with a rare illness".

What are some alternatives to "be afflicted with"?

You can use alternatives such as "suffer from", "be stricken with", or "be burdened by" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "afflicted by" instead of "be afflicted with"?

While "afflicted by" is grammatically correct, "be afflicted with" is more commonly used when describing diseases or conditions. "Afflicted by" is generally preferred when the subject is directly causing the affliction such as "He was afflicted by guilt".

What's the difference between "be afflicted with" and "affected by"?

"Be afflicted with" implies suffering and negative impact, while "affected by" simply means influenced or impacted. For instance, someone can be "affected by the weather" without suffering, but they would "be afflicted with" a serious illness.