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
The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, traveled to the Klamath last year for a series of stories about the damage inflicted by the dams and the work to restore wildlife habitat and ancestral homelands.
—Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Even in its only domestic defeat of the season - a 4-2 loss to Osasuna - Barca got on the scoresheet twice, and there have been goal-heavy thrashings inflicted on the likes of Valladolid (7-0), Girona (1-4), Villarreal (1-5), Alaves (0-3), Sevilla (5-1), Real Madrid (0-4) and now Espanyol (3-1).
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Much of the harm inflicted on victims of a nuclear strike — or nuclear plant catastrophe — comes from high-velocity radiation particles that pierce the body, damaging cells and their DNA.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
But the unspeakable violence inflicted on this community has spurred a very public purpose for the family: bringing awareness to traumatic brain injuries among military members and a call to action for continued research.
—Brenda Breslauer, NBC News, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inflict 
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Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Even in its only domestic defeat of the season - a 4-2 loss to Osasuna - Barca got on the scoresheet twice, and there have been goal-heavy thrashings inflicted on the likes of Valladolid (7-0), Girona (1-4), Villarreal (1-5), Alaves (0-3), Sevilla (5-1), Real Madrid (0-4) and now Espanyol (3-1).
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Much of the harm inflicted on victims of a nuclear strike — or nuclear plant catastrophe — comes from high-velocity radiation particles that pierce the body, damaging cells and their DNA.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
But the unspeakable violence inflicted on this community has spurred a very public purpose for the family: bringing awareness to traumatic brain injuries among military members and a call to action for continued research.
—Brenda Breslauer, NBC News, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inflict
Dictionary Entries Near inflict
Cite this Entry
“Inflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflict. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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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