inflicted

verb

past tense of inflict
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inflicted And if so, is this advantage proportionate to the harm inflicted on civilians and the environment? — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 July 2026 Bailey, 24, was accused of knowing about the abuse that the child’s father, Steven Collins, inflicted on their son Kahleb and not intervening or reporting it, prosecutors alleged. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026 The judge dismissed McManus’ claims that Bojangles managers intentionally and negligently inflicted emotional distress and dismissed part of her claim that was based on North Carolina state law. — Julia Coin july 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026 England had inflicted India’s biggest ever T20 loss by 125 runs in the third T20, with India dismissed for 76. — ABC News, 9 July 2026 As scrutiny on the harm inflicted on children by AI firms intensifies, advocates are hoping that firms will fine-tune models to block all nudity. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026 In Quiché, one of Guatemala’s poorest departments, Gerardi became more exposed to the violence inflicted by the country’s ongoing civil war. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026 What the data reveals is less about the Zillennials’ advantage than about the damage inflicted on their cohort neighbors. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026 The degree of severity in punishment for violators varies based on the type of force used and the amount of property damage inflicted. — Matthew Kelly july 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflicted
  1. imposed
  2. created
  3. forced
  4. brought
Verb
  • Sanders noted that the president’s proclamation, which imposed a partial travel ban on holders of Antigua and Barbuda passports, contained several factual errors.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
  • And if the victim is younger than age 59½, an early withdrawal penalty of 10% may be imposed.
    — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 18 July 2026
Definition of imposed
Verb
  • Undrafted rookie Cash Jones created some buzz at the beginning of OTAs after rookie minicamp revealed the Falcons are cross-training Jones, a college running back at Georgia, as a receiver.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
  • This tour will be key in terms of enhancing existing relationships and trying to attract new business, especially off the back of the buzz created by the World Cup in the States.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of created
Verb
  • While some businesses relying on summer traffic have been forced to temporarily close their doors, others refuse to let the smoke alter their plans.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Funding challenges have forced the closure of re-entry homes like the one at Charlotte’s McLeod Center and the shuttering of re-entry organizations like Redirection-NC as well as local reentry councils across the state.
    — Amber Gaudet July 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
Definition of forced
Verb
  • The extradition process can take months, depending on what challenges are brought, legal experts said.
    — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • Ukraine’s creative utilization of drones has ignited a surging fuel crisis across the Russian Federation that has brought the war front and center to the Russian people for the first time.
    — Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
Definition of brought

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Cite this Entry

“Inflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflicted. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on inflicted

Nglish: Translation of inflicted for Spanish Speakers

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