has been afflicted

USAGE SUMMARY

'has been afflicted' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has been negatively impacted. For example: "The town has been afflicted by a severe drought this summer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Mrs. Romney has been afflicted with both.

The New York Times

Even the celebrity class has been afflicted by power loss.

The New York Times

Since that time, he has been afflicted with tinnitus.

The New Yorker

Take Britain, which for decades has been afflicted with a near-obsessive approach to official secrecy.

The New Yorker

Larkin has been afflicted with a groin problem again this spring.

The New York Times - Sports

From adolescence, Ackroyd has been afflicted by debilitating shyness that is still a little in evidence.

The Guardian - Books

The most potent pace attack in the country has been afflicted by injury and unreliability.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Ms. Pische and Mr. Hermawan tapped into deal fatigue, a malady that has been afflicting the small businesses that offer daily deals and is now hitting consumers too.

The New York Times - Tech

CBSD has been afflicting crops in east and central Africa.

Science Magazine

Refranchising Restaurants: This strategy has been afflicting the company's revenues for a number of quarters now.

Forbes

He said he could not get heat into the front tyres - a problem that has been afflicting him on and off for several races.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "has suffered from" or "has been plagued by" to avoid repetition and enhance the nuance of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "has been afflicted" for situations that are merely inconvenient or undesirable but do not involve genuine suffering or hardship. Use more appropriate terms like "affected" or "influenced" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been afflicted" functions as a stative verb phrase, indicating a state of being negatively affected. It describes a condition of suffering or hardship experienced by the subject. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been afflicted" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression to describe a state of suffering or negative impact. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and notes its frequent appearance in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. While versatile, it is important to use this phrase judiciously, ensuring it accurately reflects genuine hardship rather than mere inconvenience. Consider using synonyms like "has suffered from" or "has been plagued by" to add nuance to your writing. When in doubt, consider the context and choose the most precise term to convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has suffered from

Replaces "afflicted" with "suffered", focusing on the experience of hardship or pain.

has been plagued by

Substitutes "afflicted" with "plagued", emphasizing a persistent and troublesome issue.

has been burdened with

Replaces "afflicted" with "burdened", highlighting the weight or difficulty caused by something.

has been troubled by

Uses "troubled" instead of "afflicted", suggesting a state of worry or disturbance.

has been struck by

Replaces "afflicted" with "struck", implying a sudden and impactful event.

has been impacted by

Uses "impacted" instead of "afflicted", indicating a more general effect or influence.

has experienced

A more generic term that something negative has happened.

has been affected by

Replaces "afflicted" with "affected", indicating an influence, often negative.

has fallen victim to

Replaces "afflicted" with "fallen victim", emphasizing helplessness against a negative force.

has been a casualty of

Uses "casualty" instead of "afflicted", suggesting damage or loss as a result of an event.

FAQs

What does "has been afflicted" mean?

The phrase "has been afflicted" means that someone or something has suffered from or been negatively affected by a problem, illness, or other adverse condition.

What can I say instead of "has been afflicted"?

You can use alternatives like "has suffered from", "has been plagued by", or "has been burdened with" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "has been afflicted" in formal writing?

Yes, "has been afflicted" is appropriate for formal writing, particularly when describing serious or significant problems. However, consider the specific context and choose the most precise and impactful wording.

How does "has been afflicted" differ from "has been affected"?

"Has been afflicted" typically implies a more severe or negative impact than "has been affected". "Afflicted" suggests suffering or hardship, while "affected" can simply mean influenced or changed.