Afflict vs. Inflict — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 16, 2024
Afflict means to cause pain or suffering to someone or something. Inflict means to impose something unpleasant or harmful on someone or something.
Difference Between Afflict and Inflict
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Afflict refers to causing pain, suffering, or distress to someone or something, often used in contexts involving prolonged or severe hardship. Inflict, on the other hand, involves actively imposing something unpleasant or harmful on someone or something.
Afflict is generally passive in nature, implying that the suffering or pain happens to the subject, often as an ongoing condition. Inflict is more active, suggesting that an external agent is deliberately causing the harm or discomfort.
Afflict is commonly used in medical, emotional, or societal contexts where the focus is on the experience of suffering. Inflict is used in more direct, often violent or punitive contexts where there is a clear perpetrator of the harm.
While afflict deals with the state of being affected by something negative, inflict focuses on the act of causing that negative impact.
Afflict suggests a longer-term impact or chronic condition, whereas inflict implies a specific action or event that causes immediate harm or suffering.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Cause pain, suffering, or distress
Impose something unpleasant or harmful
Nature
Passive (suffering happens to someone)
Active (harm is caused by someone)
Context
Medical, emotional, societal
Direct, often violent or punitive
Duration
Longer-term, chronic
Immediate, specific action/event
Example Usage
Afflicted by disease
Inflicted a wound
Compare with Definitions
Afflict
To trouble or burden.
Many were afflicted by poverty and lack of resources.
Inflict
To cause injury or harm deliberately.
The criminal inflicted a serious wound on his victim.
Afflict
To cause pain or suffering to someone or something.
The drought continues to afflict the region, causing severe food shortages.
Inflict
To bring about as a result of an action.
The policy changes inflicted hardship on the workers.
Afflict
To distress mentally or physically.
She was afflicted by constant anxiety.
Inflict
To impose something unpleasant or harmful.
The storm inflicted significant damage on the town.
Afflict
To cause prolonged hardship or suffering.
The illness has afflicted him for years.
Inflict
To administer punishment or suffering.
The judge inflicted a harsh sentence.
Afflict
To cause grievous physical or mental suffering to.
Inflict
To force something unwelcome to be endured.
He inflicted his negative opinions on everyone around him.
Afflict
(transitive) To cause (someone) pain, suffering or distress.
Inflict
To cause (something injurious or harmful), as to a person, group, or area
Claws that inflicted a deep wound.
An attack that inflicted heavy losses.
A storm that inflicted widespread damage.
Afflict
(obsolete) To strike or cast down; to overthrow.
Inflict
To force to undergo or experience (something unwanted)
"the piano lessons he inflicted on his son" (Christopher Miller).
Afflict
(obsolete) To make low or humble.
Inflict
To deal or deliver (a blow, for example).
Afflict
To strike or cast down; to overthrow.
Inflict
To thrust upon; to impose.
They inflicted terrible pains on her to obtain a confession.
Afflict
To inflict some great injury or hurt upon, causing continued pain or mental distress; to trouble grievously; to torment.
They did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.
That which was the worst now least afflicts me.
Inflict
To give, cause, or produce by striking, or as if by striking; to apply forcibly; to lay or impose; to send; to cause to bear, feel, or suffer; as, to inflict blows; to inflict a wound with a dagger; to inflict severe pain by ingratitude; to inflict punishment on an offender; to inflict the penalty of death on a criminal.
What heart could wish, what hand inflict, this dire disgrace?
The persecution and the painThat man inflicts on all inferior kinds.
Afflict
To make low or humble.
Men are apt to prefer a prosperous error before an afflicted truth.
Inflict
Impose something unpleasant;
The principal visited his rage on the students
Afflict
Afflicted.
Afflict
Cause great unhappiness for; distress;
She was afflicted by the death of her parents
Afflict
Cause pain or suffering in;
Afflict with the plague
That debasement of the verbal currency that afflicts terms used in advertisement
Afflict
Cause bodily suffering to
Afflict
To bring about severe suffering.
The war afflicted countless families.
Common Curiosities
Can a person inflict pain?
Yes, inflict is often used to describe a person's deliberate actions causing harm or suffering.
Is afflict used in medical contexts?
Yes, afflict is commonly used to describe diseases or conditions causing prolonged suffering.
Can a policy inflict hardship?
Yes, policies can inflict hardship by imposing difficult or harmful conditions on people.
What does afflict mean?
Afflict means to cause pain, suffering, or distress to someone or something.
What does inflict mean?
Inflict means to impose something unpleasant or harmful on someone or something.
Can a person afflict pain?
Generally, afflict is used to describe conditions or events that cause suffering, not a person's direct actions.
Does afflict have a passive connotation?
Yes, it often describes suffering that happens to someone or something.
Can an event afflict a community?
Yes, events like natural disasters can afflict a community, causing widespread suffering.
Is inflict used to describe physical harm?
Yes, inflict is often used to describe physical harm or injury.
Does afflict imply long-term suffering?
Yes, afflict usually implies ongoing or chronic suffering.
Does inflict imply immediate harm?
Yes, inflict typically implies a specific action causing immediate harm or discomfort.
Is inflict used in legal contexts?
Yes, inflict is often used to describe the imposition of punishment or harm in legal scenarios.
Can both terms be used interchangeably?
No, they have distinct meanings and contexts: afflict for passive suffering, inflict for active imposition.
Is afflict used to describe emotional suffering?
Yes, afflict can describe emotional or mental suffering.
Does inflict have an active connotation?
Yes, it implies a deliberate action causing harm or suffering.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
