Afflicter

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person or thing that causes pain, suffering, or hardship to others
2. An entity responsible for bringing about emotional or physical distress
3. Someone or something that inflicts affliction or harm on others

Etymology: "Afflicter" is a simple formation: the verb "afflict" with the agent suffix "-er," which marks a person or thing that performs the action. An afflicter is therefore literally one who afflicts. The verb itself traces back to Latin "afflictare," meaning to strike or damage repeatedly, a frequentative form of "affligere," to strike down or dash against. That sense of violent striking is still visible in the older meanings of the root, which moved from physical blows toward mental and emotional distress.

Synonyms: tormentor, oppressor, afflicter, persecutor

Antonyms: helper, rescuer, comforter, benefactor