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
By February 2004, two non-Iraqi figures were quietly turning Iraq’s Shia against the occupation and preparing them, militarily, to inflict pain on the Americans.
—
Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
Small drones now inflict the majority of Russian casualties.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Usually these harms were inflicted by a caregiver – a parent, stepparent, grandparent or other guardian.
—Laura Schwab Reese, The Conversation, 2 Sep. 2025
Why would anyone want to inflict this, or feel it?
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflict
Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
Small drones now inflict the majority of Russian casualties.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Usually these harms were inflicted by a caregiver – a parent, stepparent, grandparent or other guardian.
—Laura Schwab Reese, The Conversation, 2 Sep. 2025
Why would anyone want to inflict this, or feel it?
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflict
Verb
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Markel’s parents asked the judge to impose the harshest possible penalty.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
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Also Thursday, the judge agreed to impose an order barring Drummond and lawyers from talking to the media about the case.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When interviewed by officers, Burns admitted to creating multiple social media accounts to distribute and receive child pornography, including files of prepubescent children, the release states.—
NWA Democrat-Gazette,
Arkansas Online,
6 Sep. 2025
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The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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France’s government has collapsed after a vote of no confidence on Monday, forcing Prime Minister Francois Bayrou out of office after just nine months on the job.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
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Quarterback Brock Purdy, who delivered a clutch, game-winning drive after throwing two interceptions, has a bad shoulder and toe that could force him to miss Week 2.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The West Virginia native became the face of female boxing in the mid-1990s, covering Sports Illustrated and helping to bring attention and legitimacy to the sport.—
Esther Zuckerman,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
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The Chiefs brought a lot of blitzes.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflict. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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