Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of causing something unpleasant or burdensome to be endured: "Infliction" refers to the action of imposing something unwanted, such as pain, punishment, or a burden, upon someone or something.
   • A thing or person that causes trouble, suffering, or annoyance: "Infliction" can also refer to the source of the trouble itself—the thing or person that is imposed and causes hardship.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Act of imposing):

  • The infliction of heavy fines discouraged illegal parking. (The act of imposing heavy fines discouraged illegal parking.)
  • They protested against the infliction of unjust laws. (They protested against the imposition of unjust laws.)

• Noun (Source of trouble):

  • That old computer is a real infliction; it crashes constantly. (That old computer is a real source of trouble; it crashes constantly.)
  • With his constant complaints, he became an infliction on the entire team. (With his constant complaints, he became a burden on the entire team.)

Advanced Usage

• "Infliction of pain": The act of causing physical or emotional suffering.

  • The law prohibits the deliberate infliction of pain on animals. (The law prohibits the deliberate causing of pain on animals.)

• "Infliction of suffering": The act of imposing severe distress or hardship.

  • The documentary examined the infliction of suffering during the war. (The documentary examined the imposition of suffering during the war.)

Variants and Related Words

• Inflict (verb): To cause something unpleasant or burdensome to be suffered by someone.

  • The storm inflicted severe damage on the coastal town. (The storm caused severe damage to the coastal town.)

• Inflictable (adjective): Capable of being inflicted.

  • The punishment was deemed inflictable under the new regulations. (The punishment was deemed imposable under the new regulations.)

Synonyms

• Imposition: The act of imposing something, often a burden or duty.
• Affliction: A state of pain, distress, or hardship; also, a cause of such a state.
• Tribulation: A cause of great trouble or suffering.
• Nuisance: A person, thing, or circumstance causing inconvenience or annoyance.

Related Phrases

• Self-infliction: The act of causing harm or imposition upon oneself.
  • The wounds were determined to be a case of self-infliction. (The wounds were determined to be self-caused.)

Related Idioms

• To be an infliction (on someone): To be a severe burden or source of annoyance to someone.
  • His endless lectures were an infliction on the students. (His endless lectures were a torment to the students.)

Noun

1. something or someone that causes trouble; a source of unhappiness
   • washing dishes was a nuisance before we got a dish washer
   • a bit of a bother
   • he's not a friend, he's an infliction
2. an act causing pain or damage
3. the act of imposing something (as a tax or an embargo)