terrible affliction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "terrible affliction" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a severe or distressing condition, often related to health or suffering. Example: "The community rallied together to support those suffering from the terrible affliction that had spread through the region."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Garden envy is a terrible affliction.

The Guardian

Not a terrible affliction, though you too might wish for a pause button.

The New York Times

In return, the firm's CEO promised he would help her fight "this terrible affliction".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

IN WOODY ALLEN's musical comedy, "Everyone Says I Love You", one young character suffers from a terrible affliction: compulsive conservatism.

The Economist

In a 1977 painting called "Jealousy," a victim of that terrible affliction is hiding in the middle of the picture.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was as if the tree's immune system had been working overtime to suppress a terrible affliction and had finally given up.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

"Rock music is really just the finish line for everything that has been possessed by terrible afflictions.

The Guardian - Music

They ride in planes and have taken with them terrible afflictions, such as West Nile virus to the US, and have spread dengue virus in Asia and South America.

The Guardian - Books

She is not interested in neophilia, the insatiable hunger for the new that is one of the terrible afflictions of contemporary society.

The Guardian - Arts

The economic "benefits" from the early death of tobacco smokers vanish whenever there is adequate treatment available for the cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease and many other terrible afflictions associated with smoking.

The New York Times

JON LEE ANDERSON: I wouldn't want to sit in and play pop psychologist, but these are people that know how to assimilate loss, know how to assimilate terrible things and terrible afflictions in a way that we cannot even conceive of from our comfortable confines.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "terrible affliction", ensure that the context clearly establishes the nature and scope of the suffering or difficulty being described. Provide specific details to enhance the impact and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "terrible affliction" in situations that are merely inconvenient or mildly unpleasant. Reserve this phrase for genuinely severe or devastating circumstances to maintain its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "terrible affliction" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "terrible" modifies the noun "affliction". It is often used to describe a particularly severe or distressing condition, as confirmed by Ludwig and its accurate usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

16%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "terrible affliction" is a phrase used to describe a severe and distressing condition, often related to health or suffering. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It's most commonly found in news and media, academic, and formal business contexts. While alternatives like "severe condition" or "grave illness" exist, "terrible affliction" carries a particularly strong emphasis on the severity of the situation. When using this phrase, be mindful of the context and ensure it accurately reflects the gravity of the situation to avoid hyperbolic usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dreadful disease

Replaces 'terrible' with 'dreadful' and 'affliction' with 'disease', emphasizing the fear and impact associated with the condition.

grave illness

Substitutes 'terrible' with 'grave' and 'affliction' with 'illness', both implying seriousness but with slightly different connotations.

horrific malady

Employs 'horrific' for 'terrible' and 'malady' for 'affliction', intensifying the negative and medical aspects of the phrase.

severe condition

Replaces 'affliction' with a more general term for a health problem, reducing the intensity of the original phrase.

devastating disorder

Replaces 'terrible' with 'devastating' and 'affliction' with 'disorder', highlighting the destructive impact of the condition.

serious ailment

Uses 'serious' instead of 'terrible' and 'ailment' in place of 'affliction', offering a more clinical tone.

grievous suffering

Shifts from a condition to its effect, replacing 'terrible affliction' with the intense pain and distress experienced.

acute hardship

Changes the focus to the difficulty caused, using 'acute' to stress the severity of the 'hardship'.

major setback

Presents the affliction as an obstacle or impediment, diluting the health connotation.

significant burden

Conveys the idea of something heavy and difficult to bear, rather than a specific illness.

FAQs

How can I use "terrible affliction" in a sentence?

You can use "terrible affliction" to describe a severe or distressing condition. For instance, "The disease was a "terrible affliction" for the entire community".

What phrases are similar in meaning to "terrible affliction"?

Similar phrases include "severe condition", "grave illness", or "dreadful disease", all conveying a sense of significant suffering or difficulty.

Is "terrible affliction" too dramatic for everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "terrible affliction" is quite formal and intense. It's better suited for serious discussions or written contexts where you want to emphasize the severity of a situation. Simpler terms might be more appropriate for casual conversation.

What makes "terrible affliction" different from "bad experience"?

"Terrible affliction" denotes a prolonged and severe suffering, often related to health or well-being, whereas "bad experience" is a more general term for any unpleasant or undesirable event. The former implies a deeper, more lasting impact.