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
Death is scary, but the kind of ego death inflicted by the Borg is arguably a fate worse than death.
—
Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Most of the victims had execution-style wounds, some of which were inflicted with two quick shots at very close range, leaving traces of gunpowder on the bodies.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Beyond the outright annihilation of people and the considerable trauma that brought onto people, leftist regimes inflicted considerable misery in myriad other ways.
—Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
Yet a return to war by the Israeli military would extend the unimaginable suffering inflicted on the people of Gaza, and the condemnation of the international community.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Both Indian and Pakistani users on social media shared fake satellite imagery to suggest their respective countries’ militaries had inflicted more damage than what otherwise transpired.
—Brady Africk, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
But Rolfe has to catch up with the losses inflicted during the pandemic, when the income dried up but the mortgage and taxes still had to be paid.
—John Carlisle, Freep.com, 26 Oct. 2025
The war has also inflicted significant damage on Hamas’ supplies of its heaviest weapons and its weapons manufacturing capabilities, as well as on its senior leadership.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2025
But the most important part of the story left unseen in the series is the gut-wrenching violence Gacy inflicted on his victims, both those who died and the few who survived.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 18 Oct. 2025
Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Most of the victims had execution-style wounds, some of which were inflicted with two quick shots at very close range, leaving traces of gunpowder on the bodies.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Beyond the outright annihilation of people and the considerable trauma that brought onto people, leftist regimes inflicted considerable misery in myriad other ways.
—Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
Yet a return to war by the Israeli military would extend the unimaginable suffering inflicted on the people of Gaza, and the condemnation of the international community.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Both Indian and Pakistani users on social media shared fake satellite imagery to suggest their respective countries’ militaries had inflicted more damage than what otherwise transpired.
—Brady Africk, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
But Rolfe has to catch up with the losses inflicted during the pandemic, when the income dried up but the mortgage and taxes still had to be paid.
—John Carlisle, Freep.com, 26 Oct. 2025
The war has also inflicted significant damage on Hamas’ supplies of its heaviest weapons and its weapons manufacturing capabilities, as well as on its senior leadership.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2025
But the most important part of the story left unseen in the series is the gut-wrenching violence Gacy inflicted on his victims, both those who died and the few who survived.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflicted
Verb
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Most Gazans who had come of age or graduated from university in 2006 when Israel’s blockade was imposed were in 2023 reaching the second half of their thirties without ever having had a job, despite their impressive educational achievements.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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Overall, a third — 550,000 pounds — of the total teak the company imported in the past three years can be traced to Myanmar and entered the United States after the sanctions were imposed, according to the Herald’s analysis of records associated with the consignments’ bills of lading.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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,
9 Nov. 2025
-
This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.—
Data Skrive,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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As a result, the government is now forced to sell even more oil on the black market at a discount to evade US government sanctions, one of the economists in Caracas told CNN.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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This was not the only notable injury on offense for the Packers in Week 9, as rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden was also forced to exit the game with a shoulder injury.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Philippines is one of Asia’s most flood-prone countries but this year it has also been mired in a massive corruption scandal involving flood control projects that have brought thousands of protesters out onto the streets.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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Johnston wrote that the Bright Futures Fund was brought into the diocesan accounting system and was under the regular oversight of its finance office.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inflicted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflicted. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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