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
inflict, bring down, visit, imposeverb
impose something unpleasant
"The principal visited his rage on the students"
Wiktionary
inflictverb
To thrust upon; to impose.
They inflicted terrible pains on her to obtain a confession.
Etymology: * From Latin infligere, from in-, + fligere, "to strike".
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
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.
ChatGPT
inflict
Inflict is a verb that generally refers to causing or imposing something unwelcome, harmful, or unpleasant to someone or something, such as pain, injury, damage or certain punishment.
Webster Dictionary
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
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
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, infligĕre—in, against, fligĕre, to strike.]
Suggested Resources
Inflict
Inflict vs. Afflict -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Inflict and Afflict.
British National Corpus
Verbs Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'inflict' in Verbs Frequency: #1076
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of inflict in Chaldean Numerology is: 7
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of inflict in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
Examples of inflict in a Sentence
In reference to the issue raised by the defense in their joint letter report to the court today of their plan to challenge the constitutionality of what we call the ‘ lookback ’ provision in California, that is a major issue, they say they plan to challenge the constitutionality of the new law. If the new law was decided by a court – and ultimately that will have to be a decision most likely all the way up to the Supreme Court of California – to be unconstitutional, that is going to inflict significant harm potentially on many victims of child sexual abuse in California.
The vicious censure resolutions to strip Trustee Mary Bone and me of the powers and duties bestowed upon us by the voters is a naked political hit job, the majority on the board are diverting taxpayer dollars and manpower away from students and teachers to destroy our reputations and inflict financial pain.
Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher:
The aim was to inflict the largest number of casualties.
Just as we're all connected like never before, we have to work together like never before, both to seize opportunities but also meet the challenges of this information age, it's one of the great paradoxes of our time that the very technologies that empower us to do great good can also be used to undermine us and inflict great harm.
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.
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References
Translations for inflict
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
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"inflict." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/inflict>.
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