  We explore the role of final-state interactions (FSI) in inclusive
deep-inelastic scattering from the deuteron. Relating the inclusive cross
section to the deuteron forward virtual Compton scattering amplitude, a general
formula for the FSI contribution is derived in the generalized eikonal
approximation, utilizing the diffractive nature of the effective hadron-nucleon
interaction. The calculation uses a factorized model with a basis of three
resonances with mass $W<2$ GeV and a continuum contribution for larger $W$ as
the relevant set of effective hadron states entering the final-state
interaction amplitude. The results show sizeable on-shell FSI contributions for
Bjorken $x \gtrsim 0.6$ and $Q^2 \lesssim 10$ GeV$^2$, increasing in magnitude
for lower $Q^2$, but vanishing in the high-$Q^2$ limit due to phase space
constraints. The off-shell rescattering contributes at $x \gtrsim 0.8$ and is
taken as an uncertainty on the on-shell result.
