inflicted on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "inflicted on" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to cause harm or suffering to someone or something. It can be used in situations where someone is responsible for causing harm or suffering to someone or something else. Example: The harsh punishment was inflicted on the innocent villagers by the tyrannical ruler. In this sentence, "inflicted on" is used to show that the ruler caused harm to the villagers by implementing a harsh punishment.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All the damage was inflicted on that one day.

The Guardian - Business

Words don't change the trauma one's actions inflicted on the person you harassed.

TechCrunch

She knows how much damage Patrick inflicted on her, and she's not one to forgive.

The New York Times - Books

The damage inflicted on the environment by oil companies.

Independent

That and the smallpox inoculations inflicted on Bostonians".

The New Yorker

But the wounds being inflicted on notes and coins multiply.

The Economist

I cannot imagine the pain inflicted on this poor bull.

The New York Times

No such trauma was inflicted on its supporters.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the real damage is being inflicted on us.

The New York Times

The havoc inflicted on Cambodia was still in the future.

The New Yorker

"When I saw the damage I inflicted on her...

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "inflicted on", ensure the subject causing the harm and the object receiving the harm are clearly defined to maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "inflicted on" when the harm is indirect or unintentional. Use more appropriate verbs like "affected" or "influenced" to convey the less direct impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "inflicted on" functions as a passive verb construction, where "inflicted" acts as the verb indicating the act of causing harm or damage, and "on" connects it to the recipient of that action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "inflicted on" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that clearly denotes the act of causing harm or suffering. Ludwig AI confirms that it’s best employed when you want to emphasize the negative impact on a specific recipient. While it appears across various contexts, it is most prevalent in news and media, leaning towards a formal tone. When writing, ensure the subject causing the harm and the object receiving it are distinctly defined. Remember to use alternatives like "caused to suffer" or "imposed upon" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

caused to suffer

Focuses on the result of the action, emphasizing the suffering experienced.

subjected to

Highlights that someone or something was made to experience something unpleasant.

imposed upon

Highlights the act of forcing something unpleasant onto someone or something.

brought upon

Indicates that something negative has occurred as a consequence of someone's actions or circumstances.

perpetrated against

Emphasizes the act of committing something harmful or criminal.

visited upon

Emphasizes the delivery of something negative, often suggesting a form of retribution or consequence.

carried out on

Focuses on the execution of an action that results in a negative impact.

meted out to

Implies a measured or deliberate distribution of something negative.

exacted on

Suggests demanding and obtaining something, often at a cost or through force.

wreaked upon

Suggests a destructive or violent impact.

FAQs

How is "inflicted on" typically used in a sentence?

Typically, "inflicted on" is used to describe harm, damage, or suffering caused by someone or something. For example, "The trauma Hurricane Sandy "inflicted on" Long Beach has already inspired other posterity-minded projects."

What are some alternatives to using "inflicted on"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "caused", "imposed", or "meted out". For instance, instead of "the pain "inflicted on" the import-dependent Russian people", you could say "the pain caused to the import-dependent Russian people".

Is it correct to use "inflicted to" instead of "inflicted on"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "inflicted" is "on". "Inflicted to" is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is always "inflicted on", as in "the wounds being "inflicted on" notes and coins multiply".

What's the difference between "affected by" and "inflicted on"?

"Affected by" indicates influence or impact, which can be positive or negative, whereas "inflicted on" specifically denotes the causing of harm or suffering. For instance, the sanctions have "inflicted on" Iran denotes negative economic damage, not just any influence.