was afflicted by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was afflicted by" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used when describing a negative situation or condition that someone or something is experiencing. Example: The town was afflicted by a severe drought, causing crops to wither and the lake to dry up.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Poor Tom Sawyer was afflicted by it in the classroom).

The New Yorker

But Little was afflicted by a sense of "life-altering loss".

The Guardian

Leopoldine was afflicted by terrible leg pains and eventually went blind.

The Guardian - Books

When he was young, he was afflicted by a speech impediment.

The New Yorker

And I was afflicted by the paltriness of this present from my father to his wife.

The New Yorker

In 2009, the island was afflicted by periodic droughts and wells sometimes ran dry.

The Guardian

Southwestern China was afflicted by one of the most serious droughts in decades.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At Wimbledon, she was afflicted by a stomach virus, which she disclosed after losing in three sets to Capriati.

The New York Times - Sports

I swear that for a second I thought he was afflicted by a terrible, frothing mutation of the scalp.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I'm too sad to be eloquent!" James Dwyer: "When I was a teenager, I was afflicted by terrible nightmares.

The Guardian - Books

When the film Goldfinger came out, the architect was afflicted by spoof calls in the middle of the night.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was afflicted by" to describe a state of suffering or hardship caused by a specific condition or event. This phrase often implies a negative impact on the subject's well-being or functionality.

Common error

Avoid using "was afflicted by" in everyday situations where simpler language suffices. Overusing this phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily dramatic or melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was afflicted by" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject experienced a negative condition or event. Ludwig AI shows numerous examples where this phrase is used to describe suffering or hardship.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Encyclopedias

16%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was afflicted by" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that describes a state of suffering or hardship. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's commonly found in news, encyclopedias, and scientific writing, with a neutral register. When writing, consider the impact of this phrase and avoid overuse in contexts that do not warrant such a strong depiction of suffering. Alternatives like "suffered from" or "was burdened with" may be more appropriate depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suffered from

Focuses more directly on the experience of suffering, often from a disease or ailment.

was burdened with

Emphasizes the weight or difficulty caused by the affliction.

was plagued by

Suggests a persistent and troublesome affliction.

was troubled by

Indicates a state of being disturbed or bothered by something.

was stricken with

Implies a sudden and often severe onset of the affliction.

was impaired by

Highlights the reduction in function or ability due to the affliction.

was affected by

A more general term indicating influence, which can be negative in context.

succumbed to

Suggests a yielding or giving in to the affliction, often implying a loss of resistance.

fell victim to

Positions the subject as a victim of the affliction, emphasizing helplessness.

labored under

Conveys the sense of struggling against a heavy burden or difficulty.

FAQs

How to use "was afflicted by" in a sentence?

Use "was afflicted by" to indicate that someone or something suffered from a particular condition or event. For example, "The region "was afflicted by" a severe drought."

What can I say instead of "was afflicted by"?

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

Which is correct, "was afflicted by" or "was inflicted with"?

"Was afflicted by" is generally preferred when describing suffering from a condition. "Was inflicted with" implies that something was actively imposed on the subject, which might be suitable in different contexts. For instance, a character "was afflicted by" nightmares, but a wound "was inflicted with" a sword.

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

"Was afflicted by" indicates suffering or hardship caused by a condition. "Was affected by" simply means influenced or impacted, which can be either positive or negative. For example, someone "was afflicted by" poverty, while a community "was affected by" a new policy.