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

And the prospect of the conflict continuing indefinitely is starting to inflict the dire economic consequences on the global economy that Middle East observers have long predicted, with both American and global oil prices remaining stubbornly high. — David Faris, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026

The brutality and inhumanity that white Americans inflicted on free and enslaved Black people drove them out. — Karen Masterson, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026

Worse still, Shawn could not stop thinking about the violent punishment that would be inflicted should the stranger be caught. — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Even if Judge isn’t ready to play, the Yankees have enough offense to inflict damage. — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026