inflict harm upon

USAGE SUMMARY

"inflict harm upon" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to mean to intentionally cause physical or emotional harm to someone, typically as a consequence of an action. For example, "He chose to inflict harm upon his sister by calling her names in public."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Events such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, and storms are precisely those with the greatest potential to inflict harm upon human and natural systems—making process-based understanding of underlying atmospheric and coupled Earth system processes critically important.

University of California, Berkeley

For all of the Tribunal's flaws, it stands as a living monument to the concept that state power must be legally restrained in its capacity to inflict harm upon individual human lives.

Columbia University

To devise an outsider, however cheaply made up, who prepares to inflict harm upon mankind by going through the traditional motions of love — of parental love, moreover — is an inspiringly fiendish touch.

The New Yorker

In the age of terror, the Patriot Act denies entry to anyone who materially supports a terrorist organization, which is defined in hopelessly broad terms as any group of two or more people who intend to kill or inflict harm upon others.

The New Yorker

It is by no means an easy outcome to achieve – but it will never happen if we maintain the convenient lie that our Pacific gulags are hard but necessary, that keeping people in places that routinely inflict harm upon them is a case of being "cruel to be kind".

The Guardian - Opinion

There's never been a shortage of ersatz experts struggling to establish some sort of correlation between homosexuality and a propensity to inflict harm upon children.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

But there are others who may have inflicted harm upon Baha who have never been brought to account.

The Guardian

Then he inflicts harm upon his opponents again, in every phase of the game, all with a huge smile on his face.

The New York Times - Sports

Self-injury is when a person intentionally inflicts harm upon themselves as a coping mechanism to deal with emotional distress and pain, anger, shame, frustration, low self-esteem, and sadness.

Columbia University

Worst of all, was it because he honestly intended to inflict harm and injury upon students and faculty?

HuffPost

Whoever that rival may be, the overwhelming feeling is that he will not possess anything like the capacity to inflict harm on Harrison as Harrison can inflict upon himself.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "inflict harm upon", ensure that the context clearly indicates the entity causing the harm and the entity receiving it. This phrase is best used when describing intentional or direct actions that lead to negative consequences.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "inflict harm upon" can sound overly formal or dramatic in everyday conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "hurt" or "harm" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

Transitive verb phrase. The phrase "inflict harm upon" functions as a transitive verb phrase, requiring both a subject (the one inflicting the harm) and an object (the one receiving the harm). Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "inflict harm upon" is a grammatically sound and usable expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, for describing the act of causing damage or injury. While not exceedingly common, it finds usage across various contexts, including News & Media and Academia. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for expressing serious impacts without being overly casual or overly formal. Remember to consider the specific nuances of "inflict harm upon" compared to alternatives like "cause harm to" to ensure the most appropriate choice for your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cause injury to

Specifically refers to physical harm or damage.

do harm to

A more general and less forceful way of saying inflict harm.

cause damage to

Focuses on the resulting damage rather than the act of inflicting it.

subject to abuse

Highlights repeated or prolonged harmful treatment.

cause suffering to

Highlights the emotional or physical distress caused.

perpetrate violence against

Emphasizes the act of violence and aggression.

do violence to

Emphasizes the violent or forceful nature of the action.

maltreat

Implies a pattern of unkind or cruel behavior.

visit harm upon

A more archaic or literary way of saying inflict harm.

exact a toll on

Focuses on the negative consequences or impact.

FAQs

How to use "inflict harm upon" in a sentence?

Use "inflict harm upon" to describe actions that cause damage or injury, whether physical or emotional. For example, "His policies could "bring harm upon" the most vulnerable members of society".

What can I say instead of "inflict harm upon"?

You can use alternatives like "cause damage to", "do harm to", or "cause injury to" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "inflict harm upon" or "inflict harm on"?

Both "inflict harm upon" and "inflict harm on" are grammatically correct, but "inflict harm upon" is often perceived as more formal or emphatic. The choice depends on the desired tone and context.

What's the difference between "inflict harm upon" and "cause harm to"?

"Inflict harm upon" suggests a more direct or intentional action, while "cause harm to" can imply a less direct or unintentional result. "Inflict" emphasizes the act of causing harm, whereas "cause" simply indicates that harm occurred.