/ ɪnˈflɪkt; NAmE / verb
[ vn ] inflict sth (on / upon sb/sth) to make sb/sth suffer sth unpleasant :
They inflicted a humiliating defeat on the home team.
They surveyed the damage inflicted by the storm.
Heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy.
( humorous )
Do you have to inflict that music on us?
► in·flic·tion / ɪnˈflɪkʃn; NAmE / noun [ U ]:
the infliction of pain
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PHRASAL VERBS
- inflict yourself / sb on sb
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (in the sense afflict, trouble ): from Latin inflict- struck against, from the verb infligere , from in- into + fligere to strike.