in·doc·tri·nate
in-ˈdäk-trə-ˌnāt 
indoctrinated; indoctrinating
1
disapproving
: to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle
… a dictator who has spent 40 years indoctrinating his people.—
Jonathan Alter
Jonathan Alter2
: to instruct especially in fundamentals or rudiments : teach
New instructors are … indoctrinated with technical information …—Ken Castle
Ken Castle
in·doc·tri·na·tion
(ˌ)inˌdäktrə̇ˈnāshən
ənˌd-
plural -s
1
: the act or process of indoctrinating or the state of being indoctrinated
the proper and adequate indoctrination of a newly received prisoner is one of the most important points of the rehabilitation program—W. H. Maglin
W. H. Maglinevidence of attempts at subversive indoctrination or disloyal teaching—B. F. Wright
B. F. Wrightindoctrination can be smuggled in … in the name of democratic education—F. C. Neft
F. C. Neft2
: something with or in which one is indoctrinated
freedom of minds, the maxims of logic and experimental proof, of intellectual honesty, of tolerance and persuasion … constitute a body of indoctrination to which no objection can consistently be raised—R. B. Perry
R. B. Perry
indoctrinational
adjective
(¦)⸗¦⸗⸗¦nāshənᵊl,
-shnəl
Did you know?
Indoctrinate means "brainwash" in most contexts today, but its meaning wasn't always so negative. When the verb first appeared in English in the 17th century, it simply meant "to teach"—a meaning linked closely to its source, the Latin verb docēre, which also means "to teach." (Other offspring of docēre include docile, doctor, document, and, of course, doctrine). By the 19th century, indoctrinate was being used in the sense of teaching someone to fully accept only the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of a particular group.
Examples of indoctrinate in a Sentence
Verb
The goal should be to teach politics, rather than to indoctrinate students in a narrow set of political beliefs.
indoctrinated children in proper safety procedures
Recent Examples on the Web
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 13 June 2026
Americans are angry that their kids are being indoctrinated into a left-wing ideology intended to infiltrate their hearts and corrupt their moral center.
—Rachel Del Guidice, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Sylvia Wood, a spokesperson for Texas Association of School Boards, said the organization does not indoctrinate.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026
Sanctions were also slapped on seven centers suspected of indoctrinating the children or training them to serve in the armed forces, either for Russia or pro-Russian militias inside Ukraine.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for indoctrinate
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Verb
People inherited the teams in their city, passed down from their families, indoctrinated by their neighborhoods.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 13 June 2026
Americans are angry that their kids are being indoctrinated into a left-wing ideology intended to infiltrate their hearts and corrupt their moral center.
—Rachel Del Guidice, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Sylvia Wood, a spokesperson for Texas Association of School Boards, said the organization does not indoctrinate.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026
Sanctions were also slapped on seven centers suspected of indoctrinating the children or training them to serve in the armed forces, either for Russia or pro-Russian militias inside Ukraine.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for indoctrinate
Cite this Entry
“Indoctrinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indoctrinate. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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indoctrinate
verb
in·doc·tri·nate
in-ˈdäk-trə-ˌnāt
indoctrinated; indoctrinating
1
2
: to teach the ideas, opinions, or beliefs of a particular group
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