inflicted by

USAGE SUMMARY

"inflicted by" is a perfectly correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when referring to physical or emotional hurt caused by someone or something else. For example: "The emotional pain inflicted by her unkind words left an indelible mark in his heart."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The gunshot wound inflicted by a nephew.

The New York Times

Especially torture inflicted by my own country.

The Guardian

Tells about the indignities inflicted by the Nazis.

The New Yorker

Violence, mostly bloodless, inflicted by and upon digital animals.

The New York Times

Tomorrow will be for nursing the wounds inflicted by Honduras.

Independent

The pain inflicted by this scheme has been profound.

The New York Times

These are inflicted by every side in the conflict.

The Guardian

"Inflicted by whom?" he demanded, in a furious reply.

The Guardian

Otherwise, further damage will be inflicted by such actions".

The New York Times

Crucially, of course, the report documents the vast human damage being inflicted by a weak economy.

The New York Times

He saw this process inflicted by politicians, religions and "authority figures in general".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "inflicted by" to clearly identify the source or cause of damage, harm, or suffering. This ensures clarity and accountability in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "inflicted by" in excessively passive constructions, which can obscure agency. Instead, consider restructuring the sentence to emphasize who or what is actively causing the harm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "inflicted by" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, indicating the source or agent responsible for causing harm, damage, or suffering. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is considered perfectly correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "inflicted by" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that serves to pinpoint the source or agent causing harm or damage. As verified by Ludwig, its usage spans across various contexts, with a notable presence in news, scientific, and encyclopedia sources. When writing, ensure that "inflicted by" is used in active voice constructions and replace it with "caused by", "brought about by" or similar alternative to increase the text effectiveness. Understanding its communicative purpose and register can aid in crafting clear and impactful sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

caused by

Directly indicates the cause of something, focusing on origination.

brought about by

Implies a more indirect causation, suggesting a process or series of events led to the result.

perpetrated by

Emphasizes the active role of the agent in causing harm or damage, often in a criminal context.

dealt by

Suggests an action or blow that caused harm or damage.

administered by

Implies a formal or official process of causing something, often related to punishment or treatment.

occasioned by

Highlights the role of something as the immediate reason or trigger for an event.

triggered by

Focuses on a specific event or condition that initiated a chain of events.

emanating from

Suggests that something originates from a particular source and causes an effect.

stemming from

Indicates that something originates or arises as a consequence of something else.

executed by

Implies the agent is directly responsible for the action and result.

FAQs

How can I use "inflicted by" in a sentence?

Use "inflicted by" to show the cause of damage, harm, or suffering. For instance, "The damage "inflicted by" the storm was significant."

What are some alternatives to "inflicted by"?

You can use alternatives like "caused by", "brought about by", or "perpetrated by" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "inflicted by" and "caused by"?

"Inflicted by" often implies a more direct and intentional action than "caused by", which can be more general. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize agency.

What's the difference between "inflicted by" and "suffered by"?

"Inflicted by" indicates the source of harm, while "suffered by" indicates who or what experienced the harm. For example, "The wounds "inflicted by" the attacker were "suffered by" the victim".