inflict

American  

[in-flikt] / ɪnˈflɪkt /

verb (used with object)

• inflicts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• inflicted,
  past participle,  past
• inflicting
  present participle

1. to impose as something that must be borne or suffered.

   to inflict punishment.

2. to impose (anything unwelcome).

   The regime inflicted burdensome taxes on the people.

3. to deal or deliver, as a blow.

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inflict British  

/ ɪnˈflɪkt /

verb

1. to impose (something unwelcome, such as pain, oneself, etc)

2. rare to cause to suffer; afflict (with)

3. to deal out (blows, lashes, etc)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• inflicter
  noun
• infliction
  noun
• inflictor
  noun
• preinflict
  verb (used with object)
• inflictable
  adjective
• inflictive
  adjective
• uninflicted
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• inflicting
  present
• inflicted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• inflict
  simple
• inflicts
  simple
• have inflicted
  perfect
• has inflicted
  perfect
• am inflicting
  progressive
• are inflicting
  progressive
• is inflicting
  progressive
• have been inflicting
  perfect progressive
• has been inflicting
  perfect progressive

Past

• inflicted
  simple
• had inflicted
  perfect
• was inflicting
  progressive
• were inflicting
  progressive
• had been inflicting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will inflict
  simple
• will have inflicted
  perfect
• will be inflicting
  progressive
• will have been inflicting
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of inflict

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin inflīctus, past participle of inflīgere “to strike or dash against,” equivalent to in- “in” + flīg- (stem of flīgere “to beat down”) + -tus past participle suffix; see in- ²

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Explanation

When you force an undesirable or harmful event on someone, you inflict it on them. You might prefer that someone inflict some physical pain on you rather than inflict you with the boredom of another trip to the annual flower show. The verb inflict comes from the Latin word inflictus, meaning “to strike or dash against.” If you cause anything bad to happen to a person, animal, or even an object, you inflict that badness on them. For example, someone can inflict injuries or suffering on other people or inflict damage on property. We can inflict pollution or over-development on our environment. It's always a negative thing — you wouldn't say you inflict happiness or love on others.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inflict inflicts inflicted inflicting

In a light-touch regulatory environment, class-action lawsuits could inflict unexpected pain on asset managers, some lawyers say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

“Without relief, Defendants’ calculated campaign will continue to inflict fear, to destabilize SAL’s operations, and to cause further irreparable harm.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026

Renshaw took the strike when needed, protecting Lyon from the pace of Anrich Nortje, but became increasingly aggressive to add boundaries and inflict further pain as the partnership grew.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

But Krishnan-Harihara believes any sanctions imposed on the club are unlikely to inflict lasting damage on Manchester's economic prospects.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

Despite Britain being the home of parliamentary democracy, it was that democracy that had helped inflict a pernicious system of iniquity on my people.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

CME claims the CFTC’s approval inflicts “textbook competitive injury” as perpetual futures target its retail customer base.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

"Please can we not be a church that inflicts such pain, and that I believe is the fundamental choice at the base of this bill," he added.

From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2026

The focus here is squarely on her mother, another survivor who inflicts her own share of damage along the way.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2026

Sensitively, the film portrays the devastation Alzheimer's disease inflicts on a patient's loved ones.

From Barron's ● Feb. 21, 2026

Is humanity worth the pain it inflicts upon itself?

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Last week’s equity-market turbulence inflicted significant damage to hedge-fund trading books.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026

Economists at the New York Federal Reserve have found that these levies have inflicted a heavy hit on many common consumer goods.

From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2026

After everything Russia has inflicted on Ukraine, Kyiv isn’t about to turn to Moscow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

The Second World War, meanwhile, inflicted its own deadly toll -- the Soviet Union suffered the highest casualties, with 20-27 million people estimated to have died, both civilians and military.

From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026

“You have caused no mischief, worked no magic, inflicted no harm. Run, Kendra, they can’t stop you!”

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

The theory is that Washington would be so wary of inflicting permanent damage on the American economy that it eventually would accommodate whatever facts Beijing is able to create on the ground in Taiwan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

"We've got a lot of belief in Sidi, a big signing for the club," said Lampard, after inflicting a second successive 4-1 away defeat for the Magpies.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

BYD and other Chinese automakers have witnessed substantial growth in Europe in recent years thanks to their relatively cheap lineups of vehicles that are enticing local drivers and inflicting pain on domestic carmakers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

The overstretched will slide into financial distress, inflicting losses on banks and on the private lenders that have proliferated.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026

“So the Lewis women have been inflicting that meatloaf on their families for four generations?”

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

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Related Words

• exact
• expose
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