as in imposed
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 inflicted
But most people, when presented with images of immense and deliberately inflicted human suffering, have a human response.
—
Jack Sheehan
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
The trade of Parsons certainly inflicted some anguish on Cowboys fans who have been longing for the franchise to at least get back to the NFC Championship Game.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The film culminates with an escalating parade of pain inflicted on Marv and Harry, and John deftly varied the pace and intensity of his cartooning — with heavy use of pizzicato strings, triangle, and legato bass clarinets — to match the progression.
—Tim Greiving, Vulture, 3 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
The irreparable damage inflicted on Americans and other peaceful individuals will be a stain in this great country’s history and must cease immediately.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 30 Aug. 2025
The former first lady has been the subject of numerous high-profile scandals, some dating back more than 15 years, which overshadowed Yoon’s turbulent presidency and inflicted political damage on him and his conservative party.
—CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
The attacks have certainly inflicted major damage to the country’s nuclear program.
—Robert J. Einhorn, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2025
And for me, as someone who comes from a Jewish background, the idea that the Jews would be marked with the stain of having inflicted this kind of suffering on others is really painful.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2025
Jack Sheehan
september 4, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
The trade of Parsons certainly inflicted some anguish on Cowboys fans who have been longing for the franchise to at least get back to the NFC Championship Game.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The film culminates with an escalating parade of pain inflicted on Marv and Harry, and John deftly varied the pace and intensity of his cartooning — with heavy use of pizzicato strings, triangle, and legato bass clarinets — to match the progression.
—Tim Greiving, Vulture, 3 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
The irreparable damage inflicted on Americans and other peaceful individuals will be a stain in this great country’s history and must cease immediately.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 30 Aug. 2025
The former first lady has been the subject of numerous high-profile scandals, some dating back more than 15 years, which overshadowed Yoon’s turbulent presidency and inflicted political damage on him and his conservative party.
—CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
The attacks have certainly inflicted major damage to the country’s nuclear program.
—Robert J. Einhorn, Foreign Affairs, 29 Aug. 2025
And for me, as someone who comes from a Jewish background, the idea that the Jews would be marked with the stain of having inflicted this kind of suffering on others is really painful.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflicted
Verb
-
The court imposed a 31-month prison sentence on Connolly.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
To see armed soldiers patrolling there is to see force imposed on a place built for conversation, exchange and civic trust.—
Eric Chastain,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The ad’s award has since been revoked and the agency that created it has issued a public apology, but Salvador isn’t done.—
Kyle Ingram,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
-
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,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Though Andre officially ended things with his other flame, Ashley (Jen Jacob), Dani's daughter's abduction has forced her to spend some questionable quality time with her ex-husband Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett), who, it should be noted, shares a last name with Devon Winters' birth mother Yolanda.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Sep. 2025
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On Sunday, Rodgers celebrated when the Steelers forced and recovered a fumble during a fourth-quarter kickoff return.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Canales was brought here to bring a creative offense to town.—
Mike Kaye
September 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Jenkins voted to continue mask mandates in Brevard County schools, even after the DeSantis administration directed districts to lift them, a stance that brought protests outside her home, threats against her family, and national media scrutiny.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflicted. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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