as in imposing
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 inflicting
Their shared belief in the importance of cinema breaks through the screen, contagiously inflicting those watching, striking a hopeful tone to cherish and admire that also prevents the film from appearing earnest and naive.
—
Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
For now, there’s much more acute pain Julia and Henry are inflicting upon us.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
In some states, while inflicting physical punishment on children in schools is banned, incidents of its use in schools still occur, the nonprofit organization Lawyers for Good Government reported.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
This threatens the public school ecosystem, inflicting long-term harm on a generation of students already recovering from pandemic-era setbacks.
—Sonia Banker, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2025
The ambiguity is deliberate, with Gudsen and Michelle shaped by their compromises, each capable of inflicting harm.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
He was deported in 2015, after serving a six-year state prison term for convictions of inflicting corporal punishment, child cruelty, willful discharge of a firearm in a negligent manner and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Her words are a chilling reminder of the invisible wounds this war is inflicting on children in Sudan.
—Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Critics tend to argue that the atomic bombs were unnecessary, inflicting unspeakable devastation on cities filled with civilians against an enemy that was already defeated and soon going to surrender.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2025
Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
For now, there’s much more acute pain Julia and Henry are inflicting upon us.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
In some states, while inflicting physical punishment on children in schools is banned, incidents of its use in schools still occur, the nonprofit organization Lawyers for Good Government reported.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
This threatens the public school ecosystem, inflicting long-term harm on a generation of students already recovering from pandemic-era setbacks.
—Sonia Banker, Sun Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2025
The ambiguity is deliberate, with Gudsen and Michelle shaped by their compromises, each capable of inflicting harm.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
He was deported in 2015, after serving a six-year state prison term for convictions of inflicting corporal punishment, child cruelty, willful discharge of a firearm in a negligent manner and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Her words are a chilling reminder of the invisible wounds this war is inflicting on children in Sudan.
—Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Critics tend to argue that the atomic bombs were unnecessary, inflicting unspeakable devastation on cities filled with civilians against an enemy that was already defeated and soon going to surrender.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflicting
Verb
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And, just in time, online sports betting companies for the first time are imposing per-bet fees on Illinoisans as the companies seek to pass along new taxes imposed by Democrats in Springfield.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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Trump is trying to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a law historically used for imposing economic sanctions and other penalties on foreign enemies.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Officials are now working on drafting new rules and licensing regulations that would change that, creating a new type of marijuana business allowed in the city after voters legalized recreational marijuana statewide in 2022.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
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Millions will die, but society will finally get serious about creating adequate fail-safes for this new technology.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The legislation will limit repayment options and cap borrowing limits for graduate students, including eliminating Graduate PLUS loans, forcing more students to apply for private loans or reconsider their education options.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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The outbreak was forcing a shortage of eggs as well, leading some grocers to restrict how many dozens of eggs consumers could buy per visit.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As mayor, Andrade blew the whistle on a contract for a company that developed a tax collection system for the city, a deal her predecessor approved without bringing it before the council, according to a record on the case.—
Ray Long,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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Even though the Fever could get into the playoffs, bringing Clark back might not be a wise decision.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inflicting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflicting. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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