What does Inflict mean?

Definitions for Inflict
ɪnˈflɪktin·flict

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Inflict.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. inflict, bring down, visit, imposeverb

    impose something unpleasant

    "The principal visited his rage on the students"

Wiktionary

  1. inflictverb

    To thrust upon; to impose.

    They inflicted terrible pains on her to obtain a confession.

  2. Etymology: * From Latin infligere, from in-, + fligere, "to strike".

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. To INFLICTverb

    To put in act or impose as a punishment.

    Etymology: infligo, inflictus, Latin; infliger, Fr.

    I know no pain, they can inflict upon him,
    Will make him say I mov'd him to those arms. William Shakespeare.

    Sufficient is this punishment which was inflicted. 2 Cor. ii.

    What the potent victor in his rage
    Can else inflict. John Milton.

    What heart could wish, what hand inflict this dire disgrace? John Dryden, Æn. b. vi.

    By diseases we condemn ourselves to greater torments than have been yet invented by anger or revenge, or inflicted by the greatest tyrants upon the worst of men. William Temple.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Inflictverb

    to give, cause, or produce by striking, or as if by striking; to apply forcibly; to lay or impose; to send; to cause to bear, feel, or suffer; as, to inflict blows; to inflict a wound with a dagger; to inflict severe pain by ingratitude; to inflict punishment on an offender; to inflict the penalty of death on a criminal

  2. Etymology: [L. inflictus, p. p. of infligere to strike on, to inflict; pref. in- in, on + fligere to strike. Cf. Flail.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Inflict

    in-flikt′, v.t. to lay on: to impose, as punishment.—n. Inflic′tion, act of inflicting or imposing: punishment applied.—adj. Inflict′ive, tending or able to inflict. [L. inflictus, infligĕrein, against, fligĕre, to strike.]

Suggested Resources

  1. Inflict

    Inflict vs. Afflict -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Inflict and Afflict.

British National Corpus

  1. Verbs Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'Inflict' in Verbs Frequency: #1076

How to pronounce Inflict?

How to say Inflict in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of Inflict in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of Inflict in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of Inflict in a Sentence

  1. The FBI:

    North Korea's actions were intended to inflict significant harm on a U.S. business and suppress the right of American citizens to express themselves, we are deeply concerned about the destructive nature of this attack on a private sector entity and the ordinary citizens who worked there.

  2. Alexis de Tocqueville:

    In democratic ages men rarely sacrifice themselves for another, but they show a general compassion for all the human race. One never sees them inflict pointless suffering, and they are glad to relieve the sorrows of others when they can do so without much trouble to themselves. They are not disinterested, but they are gentle.

  3. Jordan Belfort:

    When you live your life by poor standards, you inflict damage on everyone who crosses your path, especially those you love.

  4. Vincent Cochetel:

    To leave people who have fled war and violence in Libya on the high seas in this weather would be to inflict suffering upon suffering, they must be immediately allowed to dock, and allowed to receive much-needed humanitarian aid.

  5. Max Stier:

    It becomes a question of: How much pain are you willing to inflict yourself going through the confirmation process versus how much you think you can actually do considering the shortness of time and the potential difficulties that may arise.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

Inflict#10000#34028#100000

Translations for Inflict

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

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"Inflict." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 7 May 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Inflict>.

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