inflicted; inflicting; inflicts
1
a
: to give by or as if by striking
inflict a painful sting
inflict damage
b
: to cause (something unpleasant) to be endured
… inflict my annual message upon the church itself if it might derive benefit thereby.—
Mark Twain
Mark Twain2
: afflict
Examples of inflict in a Sentence
These insects are capable of inflicting a painful sting.
Recent Examples on the Web
The virus inflicts acute gastroenteritis — inflammation of the stomach or intestines — on people of all ages in the United States, the CDC said.
—Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Major property damage was inflicted on a childcare center near a Jewish school and synagogue in Sydney during an arson attack.
—Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 14 Dec. 2025
Though 9,300 miles separate Miami and Sydney, Sunday’s mass shooting that murdered at least 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration in Australia inflicted wounds on Miami’s Jewish community — not just through bonds of shared faith, but personal bonds.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 14 Dec. 2025
Ukraine claims rare battlefield gain On the frontlines, a rare Ukrainian counterattack has inflicted heavy losses on Russian troops in the Kharkiv region, according to the Ukrainian military and analysts.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflict
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Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Major property damage was inflicted on a childcare center near a Jewish school and synagogue in Sydney during an arson attack.
—Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 14 Dec. 2025
Though 9,300 miles separate Miami and Sydney, Sunday’s mass shooting that murdered at least 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration in Australia inflicted wounds on Miami’s Jewish community — not just through bonds of shared faith, but personal bonds.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 14 Dec. 2025
Ukraine claims rare battlefield gain On the frontlines, a rare Ukrainian counterattack has inflicted heavy losses on Russian troops in the Kharkiv region, according to the Ukrainian military and analysts.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflict
Cite this Entry
“Inflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflict. Accessed 16 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inflict
verb
in·flict
in-ˈflikt 
1
: to give by or as if by striking
inflict a wound
2
: to cause (something damaging or painful) to be endured
inflict punishment
infliction
noun
-ˈflik-shən
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