indoctrinate

verb

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in·doc·tri·nate | \ in-ˈdäk-trə-ˌnāt

indoctrinated; indoctrinating

Definition of indoctrinate

transitive verb

1 : to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle

2 : to instruct especially in fundamentals or rudiments : teach

Other Words from indoctrinate Synonyms Did you know? Example Sentences Learn More About indoctrinate

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Other Words from indoctrinate

indoctrination \ (ˌ)in-ˌdäk-trə-ˈnā-shən

\ noun

indoctrinator \ in-ˈdäk-trə-ˌnā-tər

\ noun

Synonyms for indoctrinate

Synonyms

Did you know?

Indoctrinate simply means "brainwash" to many people. But its meaning isn't always so negative. When this verb first appeared in English in the 17th century, it simply meant "to teach"-a meaning that followed logically from its Latin root. The "doc" in the middle of indoctrinate derives from the Latin verb docēre, which also means "to teach." Other offspring of "docēre" include "docent" (referring to a college professor or a museum guide), "docile," "doctor," "doctrine," and "document." It was not until the 19th century that "indoctrinate" began to see regular use in the sense of causing someone to absorb and take on certain opinions or principles.

Examples of indoctrinate in a Sentence

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 Over the course of the Trump presidency, though, the organization foundered in its efforts to indoctrinate the most left-leaning generation of young people in history, and Kirk rebranded as a kind of under-thirties ambassador for Trump himself. — Jake Bittle, The New Republic, 23 Sep. 2021 Entrepreneurs can indoctrinate reward schemes for employee climate change programs. — Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Sep. 2021 Numerous parents approached the podium during the public comment session, condemning the teacher, the board, and the idea of trying to indoctrinate high school students with far-left ideology. — Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 3 Sep. 2021 Their aim was to indoctrinate Muslim youth with an austere, rigid, and pristine vision of Islam. — Sohel Rana, Quartz, 26 Aug. 2021 Helen Rice, another board member, said the goal was not to divide people by race, but encourage teachers to give students facts and not indoctrinate them. — NBC News, 4 June 2021 Helen Rice, another board member, said the goal was not to divide people by race, but encourage teachers to give students facts and not indoctrinate them. — NBC News, 4 June 2021 This allows their leaders to indoctrinate them into a belief system free of evidence. — Star Tribune, 22 June 2021 Helen Rice, another board member, said the goal was not to divide people by race, but encourage teachers to give students facts and not indoctrinate them. — NBC News, 4 June 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'indoctrinate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.