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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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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Iwobi’s movement drags Ladislav Krejci wider, increasing the space between the lines and creating a clear passing angle for Calvin Bassey.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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They’re combined with a non-toxic, hypoallergenic down alternative filling, creating a plush and luxurious sleeping experience that’s designed for back, side, and stomach sleepers.—
Megan Schaltegger,
PEOPLE,
7 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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For most fans, bringing home a souvenir from a live sporting event is one of the most exciting things to experience.—
Josh Taylor,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Also popular are small-batch brews with members of a home brew club or another small group bringing their own recipe, brewing it on site and participating in a tapping event to showcase their creation.—
Janice Phelan,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflicting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflicting. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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