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
They were also found liable for several other claims, including false imprisonment, battery and inflicting emotional distress on Maya, according to CourtTV, which live-streamed the decision.
—
Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
He was acquitted of a misdemeanor count of inflicting injury on an elder adult.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
Maybe familial ties, in a world that most days seems to have gone horribly wrong, where each whipsaw news cycle brings another story about humans’ inflicting cruelty on one another, are more important than ever.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
The Chamber of Commerce argues that tariffs are inflicting irreparable harm and that their uncertainty is causing companies to delay capital investments and consumers to delay purchases.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2025
Attorneys filed charges of driving under the influence causing injury with enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury in the crash.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Running back Bijan Robinson had a career performance as the Atlanta Falcons toppled Josh Allen and the Bills 24-14 on Monday Night Football, inflicting a second straight defeat on Buffalo.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Inevitably, the two men fight together, grappling on the ground and inflicting damage.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025
The only way Torres can feel anything now is by inflicting some sort of pain upon himself.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025
Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 9 Nov. 2025
He was acquitted of a misdemeanor count of inflicting injury on an elder adult.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
Maybe familial ties, in a world that most days seems to have gone horribly wrong, where each whipsaw news cycle brings another story about humans’ inflicting cruelty on one another, are more important than ever.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
The Chamber of Commerce argues that tariffs are inflicting irreparable harm and that their uncertainty is causing companies to delay capital investments and consumers to delay purchases.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2025
Attorneys filed charges of driving under the influence causing injury with enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury in the crash.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Running back Bijan Robinson had a career performance as the Atlanta Falcons toppled Josh Allen and the Bills 24-14 on Monday Night Football, inflicting a second straight defeat on Buffalo.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Inevitably, the two men fight together, grappling on the ground and inflicting damage.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2025
The only way Torres can feel anything now is by inflicting some sort of pain upon himself.
—Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflicting
Verb
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For those who prefer not to walk for hours under the imposing Brazilian sun, renting a car may prove to be the most comfortable method of touring the city.—
Greyson Ferguson,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
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But the tariffs spooked American businesses, prompting a court challenge, contending that the president had exceeded his authority in imposing the tariffs.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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More than a foot of snow fell in Chicago within a few hours early Monday, creating dangerous travel conditions.—
Sirena Bergman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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In 2024, The Roybal School of Film and Television Magnet, also a fund of EIF, also joined as a new partnership school of the Mentorship Program, creating a path for Roybal students to become mentees.—
THR Staff,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Bloomberg | Getty Images Private equity fund managers are bracing for a wave of consolidation as investors demand higher returns and stronger governance, forcing a shakeout in an overcrowded industry, several industry veterans said at a high-level finance summit in Hong Kong on Tuesday.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
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The reductions announced on Wednesday could cause even more disruption, forcing airlines to cancel or reschedule thousands of flights per day.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The proposal calls for expanding the project’s scope to include 90 more acute care beds, bringing the hospital’s total to 136 beds.—
Chase Jordan
November 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Nov. 2025
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Just two ways of bringing playful drama to a space through color, the brightness is reminiscent of the joy of holidays and puts a smile on everyone’s face.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inflicting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflicting. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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