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
There is also a growing body of credible evidence showing how EdTech inflicts emotional, cognitive, physical, and developmental harms on children, adolescents, and young adults, while displacing the human relationships that are essential to healthy human development and well-being.
—Dr. Timothy Scott, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
Moss rejected that position, finding that the order nevertheless inflicted concrete harm and violated constitutional protections.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
And if so, is this advantage proportionate to the harm inflicted on civilians and the environment?
—Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
Drones are now estimated to inflict around 80% of combat casualties on both sides, according to some estimates.
—Holly Williams, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflict
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Dr. Timothy Scott, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
Moss rejected that position, finding that the order nevertheless inflicted concrete harm and violated constitutional protections.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
And if so, is this advantage proportionate to the harm inflicted on civilians and the environment?
—Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
Drones are now estimated to inflict around 80% of combat casualties on both sides, according to some estimates.
—Holly Williams, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflict
Cite this Entry
“Inflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inflict. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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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