as in imposes
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 inflicts
Only if the Pac-12 collects three or four NCAA Tournament bids on a regular basis and a team not named Gonzaga or San Diego State inflicts damage in March Madness.
—
Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Leadership that dismisses or undermines inclusion inflicts real harm on students, faculty, and staff.
—Wanda James, Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2026
The virus inflicts acute gastroenteritis — inflammation of the stomach or intestines — on people of all ages in the United States, the CDC said.
—Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The costume designer adds that those subtle perforations become deeper cuts only when Will begins to doubt his own abilities as a father, and inflicts damage of his own.
—Elaina Patton, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
In the coming centuries, what the world inflicts on Greenland will be reflected back on it; the melting of the Greenlandic ice sheet will inundate coastal areas from Dhaka to Mar-a-Lago.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015) Moody and intricate (sometimes maddeningly so), this debut from Oz Perkins (son of Psycho star Anthony) inflicts supernatural horror and grief upon the students of a Catholic boarding school.
—Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
And, fair or not, White evangelical Christians are viewed by many as the group that inflicts the most pain.
—John Blake, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
Solitary confinement inflicts long-lasting psychological and neurological harm similar to post-traumatic stress disorder.
—Terry Kupers, Oc Register, 11 Oct. 2025
Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Leadership that dismisses or undermines inclusion inflicts real harm on students, faculty, and staff.
—Wanda James, Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2026
The virus inflicts acute gastroenteritis — inflammation of the stomach or intestines — on people of all ages in the United States, the CDC said.
—Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 2025
The costume designer adds that those subtle perforations become deeper cuts only when Will begins to doubt his own abilities as a father, and inflicts damage of his own.
—Elaina Patton, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025
In the coming centuries, what the world inflicts on Greenland will be reflected back on it; the melting of the Greenlandic ice sheet will inundate coastal areas from Dhaka to Mar-a-Lago.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015) Moody and intricate (sometimes maddeningly so), this debut from Oz Perkins (son of Psycho star Anthony) inflicts supernatural horror and grief upon the students of a Catholic boarding school.
—Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
And, fair or not, White evangelical Christians are viewed by many as the group that inflicts the most pain.
—John Blake, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
Solitary confinement inflicts long-lasting psychological and neurological harm similar to post-traumatic stress disorder.
—Terry Kupers, Oc Register, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflicts
Verb
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Californians pay the highest gasoline prices in the country because the state imposes the costliest taxes and mandates.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
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Florida law imposes the 15 mph speed limit 30 minutes before a school’s arrival or dismissal time — and 30 minutes after, too.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Although this seems old-school, research has shown that removing existing beetles may limit damage because more beetles aren’t attracted to the location, which creates a break in the feeding pattern.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
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But the killing of Khamenei, who had ruled Iran for more than three decades, creates a leadership vacuum, increasing the risk of regional instability.—
Jon Gambrell,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Government shutdowns usually need a pressure point to force a compromise that brings them to their end.—
Paul Kane,
Washington Post,
28 Feb. 2026
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On Monday, March 16, Tío Tóto's Musical Storytime Adventures brings an interactive kids music show where the audience becomes the band.—
Melissa Grzybowski,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflicts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflicts. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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