inflict
Americanverb (used with object)
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to impose as something that must be borne or suffered.
to inflict punishment.
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to impose (anything unwelcome).
The regime inflicted burdensome taxes on the people.
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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
- inflictable adjective
- inflicter noun
- infliction noun
- inflictive adjective
- inflictor noun
- preinflict verb (used with object)
- uninflicted adjective
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; in- 2
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.
Fischetti then inflicted further pain on Quins by scoring his second from Mitchell's offload to secure the bonus point well before the interval.
From BBC
Motherwell were worthy winners at Fir Park and could have inflicted a far more embarrassing scoreline on Nancy's men but for wasteful finishing in their first home victory over Celtic since 2013.
From Barron's
Motherwell were worthy winners at Fir Park and could have inflicted a far more embarrassing scoreline on Nancy's men but for wasteful finishing in their first home win over Celtic since 2013.
From Barron's
Compounding rewards patience only if investors avoid self‑inflicted interruptions — unnecessary losses early, premature gains later.
From MarketWatch
Compounding rewards patience only if investors avoid self‑inflicted interruptions — unnecessary losses early, premature gains later.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
