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Inflict: meaning, definitions and examples

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inflict

 

[ ɪnˈflɪkt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

injury

to cause something painful or harmful to be suffered by someone or something

Synonyms

bring about, cause, impose

Examples of usage

  • Inflicting pain on animals is unacceptable.
  • She was found guilty of inflicting serious injuries on her husband.
  • The storm inflicted extensive damage to the crops.
  • He was known for inflicting punishment on his subordinates.
  • The disease inflicts severe pain on its victims.
Context #2 | Verb

punishment

to impose something unwelcome or harmful on someone

Synonyms

administer, apply, impose

Examples of usage

  • The court can inflict a fine or imprisonment as punishment.
  • The teacher inflicted detention on the misbehaving students.
  • The criminal was inflicted with a life sentence.
  • The dictator inflicted torture on political dissidents.
  • The principal can inflict suspension as a disciplinary measure.

Translations

Translations of the word "inflict" in other languages:

🇵🇹 infligir

🇮🇳 प्रभावित करना

🇩🇪 zufügen

🇮🇩 menimbulkan

🇺🇦 заподіяти

🇵🇱 zadać

🇯🇵 加える

🇫🇷 infliger

🇪🇸 infligir

🇹🇷 vermek

🇰🇷 가하다

🇸🇦 ألحق

🇨🇿 způsobit

🇸🇰 spôsobiť

🇨🇳 施加

🇸🇮 povzročiti

🇮🇸 valda

🇰🇿 зиян келтіру

🇬🇪 მიზანთა

🇦🇿 təsir etmək

🇲🇽 infligir

Etymology

The word 'inflict' originated from the Latin word 'inflictus', which means 'struck upon'. It entered the English language in the mid-16th century. The concept of inflicting harm or punishment has been a part of human history for centuries, often used in legal and military contexts. The word has evolved to represent the action of causing pain or harm upon someone or something.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,696, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.