inflicted; inflicting; inflicts
1
a
: to give by or as if by striking
inflict a painful sting
inflict damage
b
: to cause (something unpleasant) to be endured
… inflict my annual message upon the church itself if it might derive benefit thereby.—
Mark Twain
Mark Twain2
: afflict
Examples of inflict in a Sentence
These insects are capable of inflicting a painful sting.
Recent Examples on the Web
Most of the damage Russia inflicts on Ukraine, however, is caused by cruise missiles that can be intercepted with European arms, such as SAMP/T and IRIS-T missiles, and most Russian ballistic missile strikes are against targets that are not defended by Patriots.
—Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 24 Mar. 2025
The first is to facilitate fraud or compromise a network, and the second is to inflict harm on a company's reputation or brand.
—Jim Richberg, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
But last weekend’s tornado inflicted the worst damage of the three for her family.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025
Five years on, our communities and our nation haven’t come to terms with the overwhelming trauma inflicted by this virus.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflict
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Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 24 Mar. 2025
The first is to facilitate fraud or compromise a network, and the second is to inflict harm on a company's reputation or brand.
—Jim Richberg, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
But last weekend’s tornado inflicted the worst damage of the three for her family.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025
Five years on, our communities and our nation haven’t come to terms with the overwhelming trauma inflicted by this virus.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflict
Cite this Entry
“Inflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflict. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
inflict
verb
in·flict
in-ˈflikt 
1
: to give by or as if by striking
inflict a wound
2
: to cause (something damaging or painful) to be endured
inflict punishment
infliction
noun
-ˈflik-shən
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