as in to impose
to cause someone to accept or experience something unwanted
The criminal inflicted a lifetime of distress on his unsuspecting victims.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inflict
Signs of the damage this psychological blow has inflicted are already bubbling to the surface.
—
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025
European states are already some of the highest spending in the world and that gives them little option for extra spending without inflicting severe pain.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025
Wall Street has been hoping the threats are merely leverage that Trump will use to negotiate with other countries before ultimately inflicting less pain on the economy than feared.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
Hamas, meanwhile, continues to exert military control while inflicting terror, despite being unable to provide basic governance, making life for civilians unbearable.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflict
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025
European states are already some of the highest spending in the world and that gives them little option for extra spending without inflicting severe pain.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025
Wall Street has been hoping the threats are merely leverage that Trump will use to negotiate with other countries before ultimately inflicting less pain on the economy than feared.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
Hamas, meanwhile, continues to exert military control while inflicting terror, despite being unable to provide basic governance, making life for civilians unbearable.
—Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflict
Verb
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After those tariffs were imposed, Canada and the European Union retaliated with countermeasures on U.S. exports.—
Christopher Cann,
USA TODAY,
17 Mar. 2025
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The president has imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and repeatedly commented on turning Canada into the 51st state.—
Rob Gillies,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As before, no new money is created when original savings are used up.—
Ann Rutledge,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
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Often called the holy grail of clean energy, nuclear fusion creates four times more energy per kilogram of fuel than traditional nuclear fission and 4 million times more than burning coal, with no greenhouse gasses or long-term radioactive waste.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This year, the universe seems to have similar plans, with the L.A. wildfires forcing her to slow down again.—
Meagan Jordan,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2025
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But despite its soaring fortunes, the $4 billion company continues to resist having to pay detainees more than $1 a day for cleaning facilities where the government has forced them to live.—
McKenzie Funk,
ProPublica,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Joe Thuney brings significant upgrade to line March 5: The Bears haven’t had an offensive lineman named first-team All-Pro since 2006.—
Kevin Fishbain,
The Athletic,
11 Mar. 2025
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That’s what the Dolphins are bringing aboard Wilson to be.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflict. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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