Synonyms of inflict

inflict

verb

as in to impose

to cause someone to accept or experience something unwanted

The criminal inflicted a lifetime of distress on his unsuspecting victims.

Related Words

• impose
• create
• force
• bring
• induce
• generate
• entail
• wish
• produce
• invoke
• thrust
• effectuate
• make
• spawn
• beget
• bring about
• result (in)
• prompt
• bring on
• foist
• compel
• coerce
• palm
• pass off
• palm off
• fob off

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of inflict

At the very least, a loss would have quelled any desire to inflict further consequences on Michigan. — Austin Meek, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Finally, the European Central Bank announced a quarter percentage point hike and raised its inflation forecast on worries that the Iran war would have deeper economic impacts and inflict a longer-term hit on consumer prices. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

But the ferocity of the strikes do not compare to the early days of the war when Iran launched hundreds of rockets and drones on regional targets, including Israel, heavily disrupting livelihoods and inflicting damage on stable countries. — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026

The stranger’s curse seems intended to inflict pain not only on the snobbish Anna, who cringes at the slob her son has become, but her pushy husband Walter (Adriano Giannini). — Damon Wise, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2026