ingrain 1 of 2

variants also engrain
1
as in to inculcate
to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle the journalism professor has long ingrained his students with a deep respect for their chosen profession

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to etch
to produce a vivid impression of the third-world privation he had witnessed forever ingrained itself upon the young doctor's memory

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

ingrain

2 of 2

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb ingrain differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ingrain are imbue, infuse, inoculate, leaven, and suffuse. While all these words mean "to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout," ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.

clung to ingrained habits

When is it sensible to use imbue instead of ingrain?

The words imbue and ingrain are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.

imbue students with intellectual curiosity

Where would infuse be a reasonable alternative to ingrain?

While the synonyms infuse and ingrain are close in meaning, infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

In what contexts can inoculate take the place of ingrain?

In some situations, the words inoculate and ingrain are roughly equivalent. However, inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.

an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

When is leaven a more appropriate choice than ingrain?

Although the words leaven and ingrain have much in common, leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

a serious play leavened with comic moments

When might suffuse be a better fit than ingrain?

The synonyms suffuse and ingrain are sometimes interchangeable, but suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.

a room suffused with light

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ingrain
Verb
The cyberpunk chaos spirals into shoot-outs with telekinesis and giant mutant babies, all of it spectacular and ingrained in reverent filmmakers’ memories. Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025 Caddy Cocktails needs to be ingrained in golf culture, not in Greg Norman culture. Anthony Moniello, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2025 Bootsy Collins: The stuff doesn’t sound ingrained in the time. Steve Baltin, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025 It has been ingrained in wine drinkers that Riesling is the best pairing for foods with a kick, which is not untrue. Emily Cappiello, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ingrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ingrain
Verb
  • Abe was part of a conservative faction of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and known for his association with Nippon Kaigi, an influential conservative organization that among other goals advocated teaching Japanese history to inculcate national pride.
    Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs, 12 July 2022
  • Everyone should inculcate the ability to identify root causes and recognize patterns, feedback loops and relationships that influence outcomes rather than focusing on isolated components.
    Balmukund Shukla, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • But Aiden Markram etched his name in lore, producing a brilliant century in the tough chase of 282 in the best ever innings by a South African in Test cricket considering the stakes.
    Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
  • Inditex has been etching out a clear lead on high street rival H&M, which posted weaker-than-expected fiscal first quarter revenues in March, as sales continue to soften at the Swedish fashion giant.
    Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 11 June 2025
Verb
  • Today, it is firmly entrenched as a historic turning point in American cinema, dissected in film courses, and beloved by filmmakers and audiences alike.
    Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
  • Iran and Israel are entrenched in their respective positions.
    Sanam Vakil, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • In theory, that should smooth some of the rough edges inherent to a first-time starting quarterback.
    Pete Sampson, New York Times, 18 June 2025
  • And this fact is unrelated to another fact: Israel unequivocally has an inherent right to exist.
    DP Opinion, Denver Post, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • More news: Injury Red Flag Pops Up for New Commanders Pickup They're also infused with youth.
    Geoffrey Knox, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
  • The Puerto Rican duo’s second album — its first in five years — sees co-founders Raquel Berrios and Luis Alfredo del Valle dive deeper into their intimate reflections on modern relationships, infusing stories of romantic struggles with pulsating basslines and dreamy melodies.
    Luisa Calle, Billboard, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • The second image was a close-up of a dog wearing a collar and a tag engraved with the album title.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 12 June 2025
  • Champions of this endeavor wanted to engrave the 1866 Act into the Constitution.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • In a 2021 study published in Psychological Reports, researchers explored how intrinsic motivation, the internal drive to act based on interest, personal importance or inner values, affects satisfaction in long-term romantic relationships.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
  • Underlying all of this is the intrinsic tendency to resist cooperation.
    Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • Those patterns were embossed into the surface of flat polystyrene chips, which were subsequently inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other types of bacteria.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 June 2025
  • Now proactively address those issues and inoculate yourself.
    Aleksandr Yampolskiy, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ingrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ingrain. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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