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.
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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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Trump defended his decision to impose tariffs, saying that the trade situation with U.S. partners was unsustainable and that someone needed to act.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
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The Trump administration on Monday said it was set to impose another 50 percent tariff on China, which would raise the duty on Chinese imports to 104 percent.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The project is also intended to contribute to maintaining existing forests and creating new ones.—
Noël Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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Legal scholars have said there is little legal precedent for Trump's war on Big Law, which has created a chilling effect across the legal community, and most will certainly have a chilling effect on his opponents who will need legal representation against him.—
Alexander Mallin,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
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However, no amount of care or good intentions can prevent the sudden demolition of the brothers’ home, courtesy of a vague order from the IDF — for which the family is even forced to pay.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
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Due to the alligator's aggressive behavior, Department of Natural Resources contractors were forced to euthanize the reptile and remove it from the area.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Billionaire Trump backer: Wait 90 days before bringing 'hammer down' on China Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, a Trump supporter now at odds with the president over tariffs, called April 13 for a three-month pause on China.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2025
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Perry shared a series of photographs of Lucio growing up: at 3 months, 7 months, and a year old, with his hair getting longer and curlier each time, before bringing the now 18-month-old Lucio into the video.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflict. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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