as in to impose
to cause someone to accept or experience something unwanted
The criminal inflicted a lifetime of distress on his unsuspecting victims.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inflict
Stories can also inflict real-harm on individuals and communities.
—
G Kirilloff, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, traveled to the Klamath last year for a series of stories about the damage inflicted by the dams and the work to restore wildlife habitat and ancestral homelands.
—Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Even in its only domestic defeat of the season - a 4-2 loss to Osasuna - Barca got on the scoresheet twice, and there have been goal-heavy thrashings inflicted on the likes of Valladolid (7-0), Girona (1-4), Villarreal (1-5), Alaves (0-3), Sevilla (5-1), Real Madrid (0-4) and now Espanyol (3-1).
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Much of the harm inflicted on victims of a nuclear strike — or nuclear plant catastrophe — comes from high-velocity radiation particles that pierce the body, damaging cells and their DNA.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inflict 
G Kirilloff, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, traveled to the Klamath last year for a series of stories about the damage inflicted by the dams and the work to restore wildlife habitat and ancestral homelands.
—Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Even in its only domestic defeat of the season - a 4-2 loss to Osasuna - Barca got on the scoresheet twice, and there have been goal-heavy thrashings inflicted on the likes of Valladolid (7-0), Girona (1-4), Villarreal (1-5), Alaves (0-3), Sevilla (5-1), Real Madrid (0-4) and now Espanyol (3-1).
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Much of the harm inflicted on victims of a nuclear strike — or nuclear plant catastrophe — comes from high-velocity radiation particles that pierce the body, damaging cells and their DNA.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflict
Verb
-
But the court found that narrow limits can be imposed to serve overriding state interests.Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Nov. 2024
-
Last month, the judge overseeing that case imposed a three-year injunction forbidding Google from a number of practices, such as the use of terms forcing app developers to use Google’s proprietary payment system for in-app billing.Brian Fung, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The Interaction Design Institute in Turin, Italy, created Arduino in 2005 to provide people of all ages with an easy, inexpensive way to build electronic devices and control them with rudimentary code.Bob Beacham, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024
-
The precursor to the Constitution and replaced by that document, the Articles of Confederation created the framework of a federal government while preserving the sovereignty of the states. 1920: The first meeting of the Assembly of the League of Nations took place in Geneva, Switzerland.Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Liz is forced to reexamine her life as the boys’ friendship unravels in a fierce competition for her affection.Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024
-
And now, Democrats are forced to grapple with precisely how to respond.Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
This kicks off Morrible causing the tornado in the Wizard of Oz that brings Dorothy to Oz and kills Nessarose, a.k.a.Nicole Fell, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Nov. 2024
-
That would bring the average price of a gaming console up by $246.Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 28 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near inflict
Cite this Entry
“Inflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflict. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share