as in to impose
to cause someone to accept or experience something unwanted
The criminal inflicted a lifetime of distress on his unsuspecting victims.
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Recent Examples of inflict
His current preferred strategy, though, is inflicting maximum economic pain, sources familiar with the talks told CNN.
—
Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
This includes the practice of inflicting direct physical harm or the failure to provide basic necessities – food, water, shelter, healthcare.
—Alex Braithwaite, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
The standoff at the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the US — Baghdad’s two dominant external power brokers — has already inflicted serious damage on Iraq.
—Alaa Shahine Salha, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The indictment against Comey, which runs to a scant two pages, charges him with threatening to take the life of, or inflict harm upon, the president and with transmitting a threat to kill the president.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflict
Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
This includes the practice of inflicting direct physical harm or the failure to provide basic necessities – food, water, shelter, healthcare.
—Alex Braithwaite, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
The standoff at the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the US — Baghdad’s two dominant external power brokers — has already inflicted serious damage on Iraq.
—Alaa Shahine Salha, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The indictment against Comey, which runs to a scant two pages, charges him with threatening to take the life of, or inflict harm upon, the president and with transmitting a threat to kill the president.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflict
Verb
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In response, Sardinian politicians passed a law that imposed an 18-month ban on construction of wind and solar projects within 7 km of a nuraghe or other archeological site.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
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San Diegans are struggling with rising costs of water, transportation and other basic expenses, and cuts to federal safety net programs threaten to impose new costs on many.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Initial estimates put repair pricetag at about $400,000, leading the Riverwalk Commission and the now-defunct Exchange Club of Naperville to consider alternatives, including converting the fountain into a static art installation or creating a more natural water feature with plantings.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
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But there are also many subtle gestures toward immortality, suggesting that Wilson has learned to see beyond the conditions of loss and precarity that created these families.—
Casey Cep,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Verb
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In the next race, however, the same approach was blocked by the Italians, and Botin was forced to bail out of the start altogether.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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But mostly, the Sparks’ defense activated, forcing 10 Las Vegas turnovers, led by two steals apiece from Atkins and Wheeler to fuel the comeback.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Just as some American immigrants brought their love of the land to the Midwest and Texas, my mother’s parents carried with them an intense feeling for books.—
Nicholas Dawidoff,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
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Since then, three more animals have died, bringing the final count to 55.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflict. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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