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
Instead of providing convenience, services and consumption, the regime only inflicts repression, intrusion and censorship.
—
Jason Ma, Fortune, 16 May 2026
Boiling water acts as a contact herbicide that inflicts thermal shock on the weeds' plant cells.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
These arrests also take officers off the streets for hours to process these arrests, which inflicts a financial toll on the CPD’s overtime budget.
—Silvana Tabares, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
There is also a growing body of credible evidence showing how EdTech inflicts emotional, cognitive, physical, and developmental harms on children, adolescents, and young adults, while displacing the human relationships that are essential to healthy human development and well-being.
—Dr. Timothy Scott, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
The focus here is squarely on her mother, another survivor who inflicts her own share of damage along the way.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Scott inflicts Ohm’s nonchalant meanness with a piercingly perverse matter-of-factness that places the character as far away as possible from the realm of likeability.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
On the one hand, the damage that Israel inflicts in the coming days and weeks will further weaken Hezbollah and increase the chances of successful disarmament.
—Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
If a minor fires the gun and inflicts harm on themselves or another individual, the person who failed to store the gun properly could face a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $7,500, or both.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Jason Ma, Fortune, 16 May 2026
Boiling water acts as a contact herbicide that inflicts thermal shock on the weeds' plant cells.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 16 May 2026
These arrests also take officers off the streets for hours to process these arrests, which inflicts a financial toll on the CPD’s overtime budget.
—Silvana Tabares, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
There is also a growing body of credible evidence showing how EdTech inflicts emotional, cognitive, physical, and developmental harms on children, adolescents, and young adults, while displacing the human relationships that are essential to healthy human development and well-being.
—Dr. Timothy Scott, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
The focus here is squarely on her mother, another survivor who inflicts her own share of damage along the way.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Scott inflicts Ohm’s nonchalant meanness with a piercingly perverse matter-of-factness that places the character as far away as possible from the realm of likeability.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
On the one hand, the damage that Israel inflicts in the coming days and weeks will further weaken Hezbollah and increase the chances of successful disarmament.
—Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
If a minor fires the gun and inflicts harm on themselves or another individual, the person who failed to store the gun properly could face a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $7,500, or both.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflicts
Verb
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Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said after Miller’s plea hearing that Missouri’s self-defense law imposes a burden of proof that was too high for her office to secure a murder conviction.—
Ben Wheeler
May 30,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2026
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The limits exist because the law imposes some responsibility on employers to ensure participants are sufficiently educated to make appropriate investment decisions.—
Bob Carlson,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Sourcing & Methodology This article was generated by software that analyzes National Weather Service warnings and advisories and creates an article based on templates created by humans.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
31 May 2026
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At the same time, the restructuring of global trade systems creates a rare opportunity for Chinese fashion companies to move from followers within the global system to active co-builders of it.—
Li Jun,
Footwear News,
31 May 2026
Verb
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The massive delta is revered not only for its capacious water supply and agricultural support, but also its famed Delta breeze that often brings relief from stretches of hot weather.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
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Netflix's 'Ransom Canyon' brings romance to Texas Similar shows are moving into the Texas turf.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflicts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflicts. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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