inflict pain

USAGE SUMMARY

"inflict pain" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to talk about someone causing physical or emotional pain on another person. Example: The man's harsh words inflicted deep emotional pain on his children.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

And you could inflict pain.

The New Yorker

And he just wants to inflict pain.

The New Yorker

People who deliberately inflict pain on others.

Independent

"We need to inflict pain on Oracle.

The New York Times

I'm afraid of anything that can inflict pain on me.

The Guardian - Film

"We want to inflict pain on your country," he testified.

The New York Times

But animals live and die and breed and feel pain and can inflict pain.

The New Yorker

Inevitably, doctors — even doctors with gentle and reassuring manners, like my father — inflict pain.

The New Yorker

Egypt and Syria, though losers on any objective basis, saw they could inflict pain on Israel.

The New York Times

The capacity of the people affected by our actions to inflict pain is much greater.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Congress wants to 'inflict pain' on Mark Zuckerberg.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "inflict pain" to describe actions that deliberately cause harm. Avoid using it for unintentional or accidental harm.

Common error

Ensure that you are accurately representing who is causing the pain and who is receiving it. "Inflict" implies an active agent causing the pain, whereas experiencing pain is a passive state. Do not confuse these two.

Linguistic Context

Inflict pain primarily functions as a verb phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it's used to describe someone causing physical or emotional pain. The verb "inflict" takes "pain" as a direct object, indicating the action of causing something negative.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "inflict pain" is a commonly used verb phrase that describes the act of causing physical or emotional suffering. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable. Analysis of example sentences shows that "inflict pain" appears most frequently in News & Media, followed by Wiki. When writing with the phrase "inflict pain", be mindful that it implies a deliberate action, differentiating it from simply causing pain. Related phrases such as "cause suffering" and "impose hardship" offer alternative ways to express the concept with varying degrees of intensity and context. Avoid confusing it with "experiencing pain", which describes the recipient of the action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cause suffering

This alternative focuses on the result of the action, emphasizing the experience of suffering rather than the act of inflicting it.

impose hardship

This phrase highlights the burdensome nature of the action, suggesting difficulty or adversity is brought upon someone.

cause distress

This option emphasizes the emotional or mental anguish inflicted, rather than physical pain.

administer punishment

This suggests a more formal or justified infliction of pain, typically within a legal or disciplinary context.

exact a toll

This implies a cost or consequence is extracted, often in terms of suffering or loss.

visit harm upon

This phrase uses more archaic or formal language to denote the act of causing damage or injury.

wreak havoc

This alternative suggests a more widespread and destructive impact than simply inflicting pain.

mete out suffering

This phrase implies a measured or deliberate distribution of suffering, often as a form of punishment.

cause torment

This emphasizes the prolonged and intense nature of the suffering inflicted.

bring affliction

This option highlights the imposition of a condition that causes persistent suffering or distress.

FAQs

How can I use "inflict pain" in a sentence?

"Inflict pain" is used to describe the act of causing physical or emotional suffering. For example, "The dictator used torture to "inflict pain" on his political opponents."

What are some alternatives to "inflict pain"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "cause suffering", "cause distress", or "impose hardship".

Is it correct to say "receive pain" instead of "inflict pain"?

No, "receive pain" implies that someone is experiencing pain, while ""inflict pain"" means someone is causing the pain. The correct verb depends on who is the actor and who is the recipient of the pain.

What is the difference between "cause pain" and "inflict pain"?

"Cause pain" is more general and can refer to both intentional and unintentional actions. "Inflict pain" typically implies a deliberate act of causing harm.