Synonyms

inflict

American

[in-flikt] / ɪnˈflɪkt /

verb (used with object)

to impose as something that must be borne or suffered.

to inflict punishment.
to impose (anything unwelcome).

The regime inflicted burdensome taxes on the people.
to deal or deliver, as a blow.

inflict British

/ ɪnˈflɪkt /

verb

to impose (something unwelcome, such as pain, oneself, etc)
rare to cause to suffer; afflict (with)
to deal out (blows, lashes, etc)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Present

Past

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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

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.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Such crises inflict domestic economic harms with dramatic ramifications for consumers, companies and governments.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

“Plaintiff deliberately crafted a salacious narrative designed to achieve maximum press coverage and inflict maximum pain; unfortunately, it has succeeded despite its falsity,” the countersuit said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

"If you are writing a script and you wanted to inflict maximum pain on Spurs fans, that's what you would write."

From BBC • May 8, 2026

The plaintiffs had not even established that shifting power generation toward technologies that inflict less damage on humans and the planet qualified as “harm” here.

From Slate • Apr. 21, 2026

Still, she had managed to inflict some unpleasantness: In addition to the knot on Jackson’s head, his pointy nose was swollen and red where she’d pinched it to encourage her release.

From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023