infliction

Everyday

1. (formal) The act of causing pain, harm or a punishment to someone. tree →
2. Something unpleasant that someone has to suffer. tree →

In the lessons

Used in formal writing, history and law: «the infliction of pain», «the infliction of punishment». In everyday talk people say «causing harm». It tells the reader that someone made another person suffer.

Examples

• The law forbids the infliction of cruelty on animals. tree →
• The infliction of pain is never a fair punishment. tree →
• The judge spoke of the infliction of serious injury. tree →
• The long wait was an infliction we had to bear. tree →
• Teachers must not use the infliction of fear. tree →

Note

Formal; quite rare. Verb: inflict (inflict pain on someone). Don't confuse with «inflection» (change in the voice or in a word ending).