inflict

Universal Words verb [VN] ~ 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. * The rodent's sharp teeth can inflict a nasty bite. * (humorous) Do you have to inflict that music on us? infliction noun [U]: the infliction of pain / harm / injury PHRASALVERBS inflict yourself / sb on sb (often humorous) to force sb to spend time with you/sb when they do not want to: Sorry to inflict myself on you again like this! * She inflicted her nephew on them for the weekend.