inflict
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to impose as something that must be borne or suffered.
to inflict punishment.
-
to impose (anything unwelcome).
The regime inflicted burdensome taxes on the people.
-
to deal or deliver, as a blow.
verb
-
to impose (something unwelcome, such as pain, oneself, etc)
-
rare to cause to suffer; afflict (with)
-
to deal out (blows, lashes, etc)
Other Word Forms
- inflictable adjective
- inflicter noun
- infliction noun
- inflictive adjective
- inflictor noun
- preinflict verb (used with object)
- uninflicted adjective
Etymology
Origin of inflict
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin inflīctus, past participle of inflīgere “to strike or dash against,” equivalent to in- “in” + flīg- (stem of flīgere “to beat down”) + -tus past participle suffix; in- 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Seitz said the men had assaulted him, and that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and deputies had violated his civil rights, inflicted emotional stress, defamed him and conspired to keep the matter quiet.
From Los Angeles Times
During these hostilities, both sides have claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on the other while suffering little damage to their own.
From BBC
Stephen Bunting silenced his critics as he inflicted a third final defeat of the season on Gian van Veen to win night four of the Premier League in Belfast.
From BBC
Both sides claim to have inflicted heavy losses in the clashes.
From BBC
After routing their bitter rivals 4-1 in November, they made the short trip up the Seven Sisters Road to inflict another humiliating defeat that pushed Tottenham deeper into the relegation mire.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
