verb
Uncommon
inflict
ihn-FLIHKT
Inflict (verb) means to cause something unpleasant, such as pain, damage, or punishment, to be suffered by someone. Example: “The storm inflicted serious damage on coastal towns.”
verb
1
To cause something unpleasant, such as pain, damage, or punishment, to be suffered by someone.
"The storm inflicted serious damage on coastal towns."
"He refused to inflict his bad mood on the rest of the family."
How to use inflict
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make someone suffer something bad, or to cause damage.
Common mistake
Something is inflicted ON someone, not "inflicted to" or "inflicted for."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
inflict damage
inflict pain
inflict punishment
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- inflicts
- Past tense
- inflicted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The storm _____ serious damage on coastal towns.
Etymology
From Latin inflictus, past participle of infligere, "to strike against," from in- plus fligere ("to strike").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “inflict” mean?
The word “inflict” means to cause something unpleasant, such as pain, damage, or punishment, to be suffered by someone. In plain terms, to make someone suffer something bad, or to cause damage.
How do you pronounce “inflict”?
“Inflict” is pronounced ihn-FLIHKT (/ɪnˈflɪkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “inflict” in a sentence?
Here is “inflict” used in a sentence: “The storm inflicted serious damage on coastal towns.”
What part of speech is “inflict”?
“Inflict” is a verb.
Where does the word “inflict” come from?
The word “inflict” comes from Latin. From Latin inflictus, past participle of infligere, "to strike against," from in- plus fligere ("to strike").
Is “inflict” a common word?
“Inflict” is an uncommon word in modern English.
