inflict — I verb administer a penalty, administer punishment, agitate, agonize, apply, beset, bring about, bring upon, burden, cause, cause to suffer, coerce, commit, deal, disquiet, distress, enforce, force, force upon, give pain, harass, harm, hurt,… … Law dictionary
inflict — (v.) 1560s, from L. inflictus, pp. of infligere to strike or dash against, from in on, against (see IN (Cf. in ) (2)) + fligere (pp. flictus) to dash, strike (see AFFLICT (Cf. afflict)). You inflict trouble on someone; you af … Etymology dictionary
inflict — inflict, afflict Both words are concerned with the suffering of unpleasant circumstances, but they have different constructions. Inflict has the unpleasantness as object, and afflict has the victim: • He knew also that the greater part of the… … Modern English usage
inflict — ► VERB (inflict on) 1) cause (something unpleasant or painful) to be suffered by. 2) impose (something unwelcome) on. DERIVATIVES infliction noun. ORIGIN Latin infligere strike against … English terms dictionary
inflict — [v] impose something administer, apply, bring upon, command, deal out, deliver, dispense, exact, expose, extort, force, force upon, give, give it to*, lay down the law*, levy, mete out, require, stick it to*, strike, subject, visit, wreak;… … New thesaurus
inflict — [in flikt′] vt. [< L inflictus, pp. of infligere, to strike or beat against < in , on, against + fligere, to strike < IE base * bhlīg̑ , to strike > Welsh blif, catapult] 1. to give or cause (pain, wounds, etc.) by or as by striking;… … English World dictionary
inflict — 01. Our army has [inflicted] heavy casualties on the enemy. 02. She thinks that hunters should be forbidden from [inflicting] suffering upon animals for sport. 03. When parrots are caged for a long time, the boredom can drive them crazy, with the … Grammatical examples in English
inflict — UK [ɪnˈflɪkt] / US verb [transitive] Word forms inflict : present tense I/you/we/they inflict he/she/it inflicts present participle inflicting past tense inflicted past participle inflicted to cause something unpleasant to happen Such a policy… … English dictionary
inflict — v. (D; tr.) to inflict on (to inflict heavy losses on the enemy) * * * [ɪn flɪkt] (D;tr.) to inflict on (to inflict heavy losses on the enemy) … Combinatory dictionary
inflict — in|flict [ınˈflıkt] v [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: , past participle of infligere, from fligere to hit ] 1.) [T] to make someone suffer something unpleasant inflict sth on/upon sb ▪ The strikes inflicted serious damage on the economy. ▪… … Dictionary of contemporary English
