in ‧ flict /ɪnˈflɪkt/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of infligere , from fligere 'to hit' ]
1 . [transitive] to make someone suffer something unpleasant
inflict something on/upon somebody
The strikes inflicted serious damage on the economy.
Detectives warned that the men could inflict serious injury.
2 . inflict yourself/somebody on somebody to visit or be with someone when they do not want you – used humorously:
Was it really fair to her friends to inflict her nephew on them?
—infliction /ɪnˈflɪkʃ ə n/ noun [uncountable] :
the deliberate infliction of pain