infliction
Dealing out harm
Infliction is the act of imposing something unpleasant or harmful on someone: the infliction of pain, the infliction of punishment.
The word nearly always involves suffering, damage, or burden—you inflict wounds, hardships, or penalties, rarely anything welcome.
Less commonly, infliction refers to the thing inflicted: The disease was an infliction she bore quietly.
Physical or psychological harm
- woundCoiled, or an injury
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- damageHarm or impairment
- hurtCause or feel pain
pain · abuse · violence · assault · battery · laceration · bruise · contusion
Extreme physical or emotional pain
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- miseryIntense prolonged distress
- painBodily or emotional distress
distress · grief · woe · hardship · ordeal · tribulation · adversity · sorrow
Punishment for wrongdoing
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
correction · chastisement · castigation · reprimand · censure · fine · incarceration · detention
Unfair demand on someone
- onusResponsibility one bears
- encumbranceHindrance or legal claim
- weightMeasure of heaviness
- strainExcessive stretching force
pressure · load · yoke · millstone · albatross · hardship · obligation · oppression
injury
Physical or psychological harm
hurt · pain · abuse · violence · assault · battery · laceration · bruise · contusion · gash
agony
Extreme physical or emotional pain
pain · distress · grief · woe · hardship · ordeal · tribulation · adversity · sorrow · heartache
penalty
Punishment for wrongdoing
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
sanction · correction · chastisement · castigation · reprimand · censure · fine · incarceration · detention · forfeiture
imposition
Unfair demand on someone
- onusResponsibility one bears
- encumbranceHindrance or legal claim
- weightMeasure of heaviness
strain · pressure · load · yoke · millstone · albatross · hardship · obligation · oppression · taxation