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
Yet meaningful change has been slow to materialize, souring views of Starmer’s premiership and inflicting heavy losses on the Labour Party in local government elections in May, which virtually sealed his fate.
—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
Minnesota is among the states with a history of forcibly removing Indigenous children from their families and subjecting them to years in boarding schools that aimed to erase Native cultures, inflicting centuries of intergenerational trauma.
—
Wcco Staff,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
The global economy in tumult, inflicting financial pain on American citizens that will linger even as oil prices decline.
—
Daniel B. Shapiro,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
Varley, a teacher, was also found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm; four counts of cruelty to a person under 16; ten counts of taking indecent images of a child; two counts of possessing indecent images of a child; and one count of distributing an indecent image of a child.
—
Kc Baker,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Hezbollah has been using fiber-optic drones since the start of the latest war, inflicting casualties among Israeli troops.
—
Bassem Mroue,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
Californios departed the battlefield after inflicting heavy losses.
—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
12 June 2026
He was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
—
ABC News,
12 June 2026
Just days after Helene, Milton made landfall nearby as a major hurricane, inflicting substantial wind damage.
—
The Conversation,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
Minnesota is among the states with a history of forcibly removing Indigenous children from their families and subjecting them to years in boarding schools that aimed to erase Native cultures, inflicting centuries of intergenerational trauma.
—
Wcco Staff,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
The global economy in tumult, inflicting financial pain on American citizens that will linger even as oil prices decline.
—
Daniel B. Shapiro,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
Varley, a teacher, was also found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm; four counts of cruelty to a person under 16; ten counts of taking indecent images of a child; two counts of possessing indecent images of a child; and one count of distributing an indecent image of a child.
—
Kc Baker,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Hezbollah has been using fiber-optic drones since the start of the latest war, inflicting casualties among Israeli troops.
—
Bassem Mroue,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
Californios departed the battlefield after inflicting heavy losses.
—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
12 June 2026
He was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
—
ABC News,
12 June 2026
Just days after Helene, Milton made landfall nearby as a major hurricane, inflicting substantial wind damage.
—
The Conversation,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflicting
Verb
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Incumbents have run on the perception that the transplants who have moved into working-class neighborhoods are pushing residents out while imposing their politics on more moderate communities of color.
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The building should be the most beautiful and imposing structure in the entire state.
Verb
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Antiques mix with more contemporary wallpapers and fabrics, creating a comfortably eclectic vibe.
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Some of the smoke may stay higher in the sky, creating a milky or hazy appearance.
Verb
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The suspects accused of plotting an attack on the UFC fight at the White House allegedly planned to deploy drones armed with explosives around the event, forcing the crowd to evacuate before they would be targeted by sniper fire, court records said.
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Croatia returned from the hydration break with determination, forcing Panama to play its game for the first time so far.
Verb
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Penn Station New York access will be limited again after the match to accommodate trains bringing fans back from the stadium.
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The New York Knicks winning the NBA Finals was a tremendous accomplishment for the organization and its players, while also bringing a joyous end to the team's long championship drought for fans.
Cite this Entry
“Inflicting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflicting. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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