inflict
Americanverb (used with object)
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inflicts,
present (3rd person singular)
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inflicted,
past participle, past
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inflicting
present participle
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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.
verb
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to impose (something unwelcome, such as pain, oneself, etc)
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rare to cause to suffer; afflict (with)
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to deal out (blows, lashes, etc)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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inflicternoun
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inflictionnoun
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inflictornoun
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preinflictverb (used with object)
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inflictableadjective
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inflictiveadjective
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uninflictedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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inflictsimple
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inflictssimple
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have inflictedperfect
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has inflictedperfect
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am inflictingprogressive
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are inflictingprogressive
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is inflictingprogressive
-
have been inflictingperfect progressive
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has been inflictingperfect progressive
Past
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inflictedsimple
-
had inflictedperfect
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was inflictingprogressive
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were inflictingprogressive
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had been inflictingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing inflict
The Bill of Rights
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Metamorphosis
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Commonly Confused Words, List 1
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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.
See Examples For:
“They certainly have the capability to inflict major damage to the region’s energy and internet infrastructure,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 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
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
Taken together, this presents a false dichotomy: AI will either end disease and suffering or inflict it in untold measure.
From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2026
Mr. Darcy’s shameful boast of what misery he had been able to inflict, gave her a keener sense of her sister’s sufferings.
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
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
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
More experienced managers than relative rookie Rosenior have struggled to survive the mayhem and unique pressures that life at Chelsea inflicts.
From BBC ● Apr. 22, 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
Is humanity worth the pain it inflicts upon itself?
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
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
These adverse moves have wrong-footed the hedge-fund community and inflicted severe losses.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 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
"We are sorry for the pain and suffering that was inflicted on you. We are sorry that your trust was so directly and profoundly betrayed by a leader of the church," he said.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
I shudder at my delusions of charity, at my shame masquerading as virtue, at lies I’ve told myself, punishments I’ve inflicted on myself, and punishments I’ve inflicted on my mother.
From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart
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
The overstretched will slide into financial distress, inflicting losses on banks and on the private lenders that have proliferated.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026
In the summer, it also began targeting warehouses of Russia's biggest online retailer Wildberries, inflicting losses not only on the company but also on hundreds of sellers who use the platform.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 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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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
