WordLens

inflict

1 of 1verb
/ˌɪnf.lɪkt/
Forms:inflicts,inflicting,inflicted,inflicted
1

to cause or impose something unpleasant, harmful, or unwelcome upon someone or something

transitive
  • The hurricane inflicted significant damage on the coastal town.
  • The bully sought to inflict emotional pain on his classmates through taunts and insults.
  • The criminal's goal was to inflict fear on the community through acts of violence.
  • The disease inflicted a great deal of suffering on the affected population.
  • The war inflicted lasting trauma on the survivors.
Synonyms:
bring downimposevisit