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
Expanding removal sweeps for children who were never in danger inflicts unnecessary trauma without justification.
—
Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 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
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
Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflicts
Verb
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Congestion pricing imposes a fee on vehicles entering Manhattan south of 59th Street.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
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The bill imposes new 80-hour per month work requirements on able-bodied Medicaid recipients aged 19 to 64 who don't have dependents.—
ByMary Kekatos,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Verb
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As Mars pushes against Jupiter, doing too much creates confusion.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
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The combination creates a vortex effect, which pulls hot ash, embers and debris into a spinning column.—
Blanca Begert,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Next week brings more reports from some major AI names, including Palantir Technologies and Advanced Micro Devices .—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
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The Storm’s ace pitcher, who also plays outfield and has experience at first base in her previous two varsity seasons, is the real deal who brings a complete game to the field for the Upstate Eight Conference leaders.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflicts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflicts. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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