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Pang vs Afflict - What's the difference?

pang | afflict |

In transitive terms the difference between pang and afflict

is that pang is to torment; to torture; to cause to have great pain or suffering while afflict is to cause (someone) pain, suffering or distress.

As a noun pang

is paroxysm of extreme physical pain or anguish; sudden and transitory agony; throe.

pang

English

(Webster 1913)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (often, pluralized) paroxysm of extreme physical pain or anguish; sudden and transitory agony; throe
  • * 1591 , , Henry VI, Part II , act 3, sc. 3,
    • See, how the pangs of death do make him grin!
  • * 1888 , , "The Nightingale and the Rose" in The Happy Prince and Other Tales ,
    • So the Nightingale pressed closer against the thorn, and the thorn touched her heart, and a fierce pang of pain shot through her.
  • (often, pluralized) A sharp, sudden feeling of a mental or emotional nature, as of joy or sorrow
  • * 1867 , , The Guardian Angel , ch. 7,
    • He was startled with a piece of information which gave him such an exquisite pang of delight that he could hardly keep the usual quiet of his demeanor.

    Related terms

    * birth pangs * pang of conscience

    Verb

  • to torment; to torture; to cause to have great pain or suffering
  • * 1918 , , "On Unanswering Letters" in Mince Pie ,
    • It panged him so to say good-bye when he had to leave.

    External links

    * * ----

    afflict

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cause (someone) pain, suffering or distress.
  • * 1611 , 1:11–12:
    • Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict' them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they ' afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
  • * 1611 , 23:27:
    • Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
  • (obsolete) To strike or cast down; to overthrow.
  • * Milton
    • reassembling our afflicted powers
  • (obsolete) To make low or humble.
    • (Spenser)
  • * Jeremy Taylor
    • Men are apt to prefer a prosperous error before an afflicted truth.