To inflict something is to force it on someone, especially something painful, harmful, or unpleasant. You can inflict physical injury or emotional suffering.
It comes from Latin “inflictus,” the past participle of “infligere,” meaning “to strike against,” from “in-” (into) and “fligere” (to strike). The idea is of striking something onto someone.
To inflict is basically to “hit someone with” a problem, pain, or punishment. The word always suggests power: the one who inflicts has control, the other has to endure. It’s a sharp reminder that harm is often an action, not just an accident.
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