inflict

American  

[in-flikt] / ɪnˈflɪkt /

verb (used with object)

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

• 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

Then last season, they inflicted the only Europa League group phase defeat on eventual champions Tottenham.

From BBC

Frederick Douglass and others were known to carry a supposedly magical root to protect them from violence inflicted by slaveholders.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It's the stress, the nerves, the pressure, the lawlessness inflicted on you," that breaks families apart, he adds.

From BBC

“Statements of shared values still matter, but only when they are backed by the ability to say no without inflicting debilitating harm on oneself,” she said in a piece for Policy Magazine.

From The Wall Street Journal

Through his actions, Ott risked inflicting "serious damage" on Austria's reputation among friendly intelligence services, according to the indictment seen by AFP.

From Barron's

Related Words

• exact
• expose
• levy
• wreak