inflicting
Sayin-FLIKT-ing/ɪnˈflɪktɪŋ/
- 1Present participle of inflict.
The commander was accused of inflicting needless suffering on the prisoners.
Inflicting such heavy fines on small shops struck many residents as cruel.
Note
One -ing form does two jobs here. In a progressive or participial phrase it is still a verb (the troops were inflicting heavy losses). As a gerund it heads a noun phrase that can stand as a subject. Either way it keeps the verb's pattern: the harm or burden is the direct object, and whoever bears it follows on or upon. You inflict pain on someone; you never inflict the person.
inflicting is a form of inflict
inflict, verb: To impose something unwelcome or burdensome on another person, forcing it upon them. Full entry
- Spelling
- inflict → inflicting: add -ing
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