3 syllables: in, flic, tion. Stress on flic.
/ˌɪnˈflɪkʃən/
Say it backInfliction refers to the act or process of causing something undesirable or painful to be suffered by someone or something. It can describe a painful or burdensome imposition, or more generally the forceful imposition of harm, injury, or trouble. The term often appears in legal, medical, or ethical discussions when describing consequences imposed by actions or events.
"The infliction of pain on prisoners was condemned by the international court."
"News reports described the infliction of severe damage during the storm."
"The policy changes led to the infliction of financial hardship on many families."
Pronounce it as in-ˈflik-ʃən. Start with a short /ɪ/ vowel, then the stressed syllable /ˈflɪk/ where /ɪ/ is lax like 'kit' and /l/ is light. The final /ʃən/ rhymes with 'shun'. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: in-FLICTION. IPA: ɪnˈflɪk.ʃən. For audio reference, you can listen to standard pronunciations on pronunciation dictionaries or Forvo.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (say inf-LICK-tion instead of in-FLICTION) and mispronouncing the /fl/ cluster as separate /f/ and /l/ with an awkward vowel. Another pitfall is pronouncing /ɪ/ as a long /iː/ like 'infection' or dropping the /t/ softly. Correction: place primary stress on the /flɪk/ syllable, ensure the /ɪ/ stays short, keep the /t/ clear before the /ʃ/ in 'ʃən', producing in-FLICTION with a crisp /t/ before the /ʃ/.
In US: /ɪnˈflɪk.ʃən/, rhotic and with a clear /r/ absence, main stress on /flɪk/. In UK: /ɪnˈflɪk.ʃən/, similar but with non-rhoticity (r-like sound not pronounced). In Australian: /ɪnˈflɪk.ʃən/ with slightly broader vowel quality on /ɪ/ and a more clipped 't' before the /ʃ/, sometimes a tiny /j/ offglide in rapid speech. The essential stress pattern remains on the second syllable across accents, but vowel quality and the degree of rhoticity vary slightly.
Because it contains a consonant cluster /fl/ right after a short stressed syllable and a /ʃ/ consonant near the end, which can tempt learners to misplace the tongue or merge /t/ with /ʃ/. The sequence /flɪk.ʃən/ requires precise timing: the tongue must release the /t/ just before the /ʃ/ and the /ɪ/ must be short and lax. Practicing with minimal pairs and slow drills helps you stabilize the transition between /fl/ and /kl/ in rapid speech.
Infliction uniquely combines the root keeps the 'flict' element from Latin 'fligere' via inflict-with a 'in-' prefix, forming a noun that denotes the act of imposing harm or burden. Its pronunciation tightly groups /flɪk/ as a single stressed unit before the /ʃən/. Unlike 'confliction' or 'inflation', infliction keeps the /t/ before /ʃ/ clearly pronounced, avoiding merging with /ʃ/. This precise, syllable-timed rhythm is what native speakers latch onto in formal contexts.
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US: /ɪnˈflɪk.ʃən/ with a clear, mid vowel quality and a non-rhotic /r/ in the surrounding words. UK: /ɪnˈflɪk.ʃən/ with slightly less vowel rounding and a lighter /t/ release; AU: /ɪnˈflɪk.ʃən/ with a broader vowel and a more marked, crisp /t/ release; rhoticity varies but generally non-rhotic in careful speech. Focus on keeping /fl/ tightly blended, /ɪ/ short, /k/ crisp, and /ʃən/ rounded. IPA references: /ɪ/, /n/, /ˈ/, /f/, /l/, /ɪ/, /k/, /ʃ/, /ən/.
Infliction originates from Middle French infliction, from Latin inflictio, infliction-, inflictio, from inflictus, the perfect passive participle of infringere 'to break into, oppress, wound'. The prefix in- conveys a sense of 'toward' or 'upon', while -flict comes from Latin flere or flectere? (Note: actual root is -flict- from fingere? This word shares a Romance lineage with 'confliction' and is closely tied to 'inflict' (to impose an undesired burden) formed in English in the 16th century. The core sense evolved from causing harm or pain to imposing penalties or burdens, and by extension to any forcefully imposed averse result. First known use attested in early modern English writings around the 16th century, reflecting legal or moral contexts where harm or punishment was inflicted by one party upon another. In modern usage, infliction commonly appears in discussions of pain, hardship, or legal penalties, often in formal or analytical prose.
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Words that rhyme with "infliction"
-ion sounds
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