Use inflict for harmful or unwelcome effects, usually in the pattern inflict something on someone. Avoid it for benefits or neutral actions.
Use inflict for harmful or unwelcome effects, usually in the pattern inflict something on someone. Avoid it for benefits or neutral actions.
Inflict someone with pain uses the sufferer as the object, but standard wording is inflict pain on someone.
From Latin inflictus, the past participle of infligere, meaning to strike on or against, from in- plus fligere, to strike.
What does inflict mean?
Inflict means to cause someone or something to suffer harm, pain, damage, punishment, or another unwelcome burden.
What preposition is used with inflict?
The usual pattern is inflict something on someone or inflict something upon someone.
Can inflict be used for positive things?
No. Inflict normally describes harmful, painful, or unwelcome effects.
What is the past tense of inflict?
The past tense and past participle are inflicted.
How is inflict different from afflict?
Inflict means to cause harm or impose a burden, while afflict means to trouble or make someone suffer.