as in to impose
to cause someone to accept or experience something unwanted
The criminal inflicted a lifetime of distress on his unsuspecting victims.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inflict
Directly inflicting environmental damage on a neighboring nation for years at a time is a hostile act under international law.
—
U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
Neither are the hauntings inflicted upon us by our pasts.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Since then, both sides have claimed to have inflicted significant losses on the other.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2025
The pain inflicted on constituents by Trump’s tariff policy has driven six more Republicans to join Grassley as supporters of the bill.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflict
U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
Neither are the hauntings inflicted upon us by our pasts.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Since then, both sides have claimed to have inflicted significant losses on the other.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2025
The pain inflicted on constituents by Trump’s tariff policy has driven six more Republicans to join Grassley as supporters of the bill.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflict
Verb
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As a result, experts have said a one-size-fits-all rate like what the White House imposed on steel, aluminum and cars would be devastating.—
Joseph Choi,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2025
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On the first day of his second term, Trump issued executive orders to withdraw from the UN Paris climate accord and the World Health Organization and imposed a 90-day pause on all delivery of U.S. foreign aid.—
Ngaire Woods,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The debris – space rocks known as meteoroids – collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Five years after the pandemic forced children into remote instruction, two-thirds of U.S. fourth graders still cannot read at grade level.—
K. Dara Hill,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2025
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Such environments can force the plane downward, disrupt its ability to climb, or reduce lift on the wings, according to aviation experts.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But after eating Holly's brain in hopes of finding out who killed her, Liv learns more about where Holly was coming from and how to bring something of Holly's insatiable lust for life into her own existence.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2025
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Self Offense explores the fundamental dynamics of space and time in interactions, bringing it into conscious awareness to be used as a tool.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflict. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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