inflicting

verb

present participle of inflict
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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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 inflicting The crew threw live birds at her, inflicting real injuries and once coming dangerously close to hurting her eye. — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026 The plaintiffs challenging the project claim the work is inflicting irreversible damage. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 The plaintiffs challenging the project, DC Preservation League and two golfers, claim the work is inflicting irreversible damage. — Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, families like the Tylers are suing the Morgans in civil court for breach of contract and inflicting emotional distress. — Dave Savini, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026 The administration insists its strategy of inflicting economic pain is working. — Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026 That might be the best shot society has at preventing AI from inflicting serious harm, according to some industry experts. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026 Indeed, inflicting hardship on the population seems especially unlikely to change the calculus of the Iranian regime, given its willingness to kill thousands of protestors to stay in power. — Justin Bronk, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026 Caruso has been charged with kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse inflicting mental injury. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflicting
  1. imposing
  2. creating
  3. forcing
  4. bringing
Verb
  • The organ has an imposing physical presence, but its expressive range can become constricting over 13 tracks.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The four plaintiffs — Carvajal, Gonzalez, Ratchkauskas and Mojena — contend that FIU violated their constitutional rights by imposing sanctions over private conversations that, however offensive, did not constitute genuine threats.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of imposing
Verb
  • This has the effect of creating more sunlight hours in the evening during months when the weather is the warmest.
    — Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • In our community, parents have been able to make up a portion of the rest, but as the cuts keep piling up, more and more parents are considering leaving the system, creating a cycle of disinvestment.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of creating
Verb
  • Cooper has led wire-to-wire over Republican opponent Michael Whatley, maintaining wide polling and fundraising leads and forcing key GOP super PACs to pause spending in the race to focus elsewhere.
    — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The question is going to voters because opponents gathered petition signatures forcing a referendum.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of forcing
Verb
  • Heidi Rackliffe, Avec’s chief program officer, was bringing her team in on weekends to call everybody back.
    — Rachel Siegel, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • By bringing a familiar nameplate into the electric era, VW has a chance to make the transition feel less like a leap into the unknown and more like buying the next version of a car people already understand.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of bringing

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inflicted
inflicting
inflicts
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Cite this Entry

“Inflicting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflicting. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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