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.

---

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)

---

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

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inflict inflicts inflicted inflicting

"The fact that Levy was able to inflict such devastating harm after being freed by police and the courts is deeply concerning."

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

That isn’t to say that a 22% haircut wouldn’t inflict serious financial hardship on millions of retirees.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026

Intervention is more likely if the Houthis inflict significant infrastructure damage or commit a mass-casualty attack, but Riyadh’s precise trigger for escalation is unclear.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

More importantly, that thinking ignores the trauma the investigations themselves inflict.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 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

But more than 20 charities in both countries have said the French-British deal inflicts "further harm on people who have already survived war, torture, persecution, violence, human trafficking, and a treacherous sea journey".

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

What inflicts the damage is not so much plausibility in the abstract as repetition inside intimacy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 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 pain Deborah inflicts on Ava is at once very personal and notoriously endemic to the entertainment business.

From Salon ● May 9, 2025

Is humanity worth the pain it inflicts upon itself?

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Near the base of a column atop which Saint Simeon Stylites once perched, scattered stones lay bare the damage inflicted on the surrounding Byzantine monastery in northern Syria by war, looting and rampant illegal excavations.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

The measure of his serious intent to change will be measured in how he spends it—in seeking a return to public power, or in reckoning with the harm he inflicted.

From Slate ● Jul. 10, 2026

More accomplished sides than Panama would have inflicted serious punishment.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

Ireland's historic weekend continued as they inflicted a first T20 series defeat on India since 2023 with a dramatic one-run victory at Stormont.

From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026

Remembering how many injuries I had sustained — and inflicted — playing volleyball, I felt faintly nauseated.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

Sir Keir said there was "real unity" among G7 leaders on Ukraine, which he said was regaining territory and inflicting huge losses on occupying Russian forces.

From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026

French lawmakers on Tuesday recognised the state's partial responsibility in allowing a toxic pesticide to be used in the French West Indies despite health warnings, inflicting long-term harm on the islands and their people.

From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026

In his novel “Sacred Hunger,” Barry Unsworth wrote: “Nothing a man suffers will prevent him from inflicting suffering on others. Indeed, it will teach him the way.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

That is a mental roadblock you’re inflicting on yourself.

From MarketWatch ● May 6, 2026

The injury to Booth’s leg had caused the tissue to swell up and create a seal that could not be broken without inflicting agony upon the patient and possibly worsening the injury.

From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

Related Words

• exact
• expose
• levy
• wreak