afflicts

v.

cause great unhappiness for; distress

"she was afflicted by the death of her parents"

cause pain or suffering in

"afflict with the plague"; "That debasement of the verbal currency that afflicts terms used in advertisement"

同义词：smite

cause bodily suffering to and make sick or indisposed

同义词：troubleailpain

1. The disease afflicts millions of people each year.
   这种疾病每年使数百万人受苦。
2. Poverty afflicts many communities in the region.
   贫困折磨着该地区的许多社区。