Words / B2

in-FLIKT/ɪnˈflɪkt/

To inflict is to make someone suffer something: inflict delays on; inflict damage. Cause is wider and milder. The outage inflicted delays. Pattern: inflict something on someone. Formal and often negative. Do not inflict a “nice surprise” — the verb expects harm.

Meaning

To make someone suffer something unpleasant (inflict something on someone).

Examples

• “The outage inflicted delays on every results-day login in the trust.”
• “The storm inflicted damage on the coastal path, which is the disaster sense.”

Good to know

inflict something on someone; inflict damage / casualties / a penalty. Wider: cause. Formal, negative. News and history. Harm, not gifts.

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