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
The District’s strong gun laws, including its bans on semi-automatic weapons and open carry, likely stopped some rioters from arming themselves and inflicting mass casualties.
—
Douglas Letter, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
Martinez has been charged with two counts of murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, the sheriff's office said in their statement.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
The Chinese, too, are absolutely shocked that a great power is menacing a small neighbor and inflicting regime change by military force.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
The others were charged with inflicting great bodily injury.
—Cameron MacDonald, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Charged with assault on a female and misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury, he was scheduled for another trial.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 23 Dec. 2025
That charge also includes a special allegation for personally inflicting great bodily injury.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 22 Dec. 2025
Representatives should, for instance, explain to their constituents that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are a bloc, and that this bloc is confrontational and capable of inflicting substantial damage on the United States, American interests, and Washington’s partners.
—Rebeccah Heinrichs, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
He was acquitted of a misdemeanor count of inflicting injury on an elder adult.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
Douglas Letter, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
Martinez has been charged with two counts of murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, the sheriff's office said in their statement.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
The Chinese, too, are absolutely shocked that a great power is menacing a small neighbor and inflicting regime change by military force.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
The others were charged with inflicting great bodily injury.
—Cameron MacDonald, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
Charged with assault on a female and misdemeanor assault inflicting serious injury, he was scheduled for another trial.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 23 Dec. 2025
That charge also includes a special allegation for personally inflicting great bodily injury.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 22 Dec. 2025
Representatives should, for instance, explain to their constituents that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are a bloc, and that this bloc is confrontational and capable of inflicting substantial damage on the United States, American interests, and Washington’s partners.
—Rebeccah Heinrichs, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
He was acquitted of a misdemeanor count of inflicting injury on an elder adult.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflicting
Verb
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Iranian authorities have responded by deploying numerous security forces, imposing internet blackouts and enforcing curfews in some areas in an effort to suppress the unrest.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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Originally constructed to be a shopping mall, the imposing structure now serves as the headquarters of Venezuela’s intelligence services and a notorious prison.—
Uriel Blanco,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, the shoulder pads add structure to the piece, creating a sophisticated look and a balanced shape from top to bottom.—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
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Mop the area, allowing at least an hour of drying time before replacing the appliance to ensure lingering moisture is not trapped, creating a breeding ground for mold and mildew.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That simple change would introduce real competition, allowing merchants to choose lower-cost options and forcing the dominant players to compete on price and service--just like any other market.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
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Jackson remains optimistic that Medicaid cuts will spur a public backlash against lawmakers, forcing Congress to reverse Medicaid cuts before additional layoffs are necessary.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Kirkmeyer is also bringing a bill to remove the state tax on overtime pay.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
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On Friday, the four will then fly to Houston, Texas, bringing Crew-11 commander Zena Cardman and pilot Mike Fincke home.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflicting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflicting. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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