inoculate

verb

in·oc·u·late i-ˈnä-kyə-ˌlāt

inoculated; inoculating

Synonyms of inoculate next

transitive verb

: to introduce immunologically active material (such as an antibody or antigen) into especially in order to treat or prevent a disease

inoculate children against diphtheria

: to introduce a microorganism into

inoculate mice with anthrax

beans inoculated with nitrogen-fixing bacteria

: to introduce (something, such as a microorganism) into a suitable situation for growth

: to protect as if by inoculation

: to introduce something into the mind of

inoculative

i-ˈnä-kyə-ˌlā-tiv

adjective

inoculator

i-ˈnä-kyə-ˌlā-tər

noun

Did you know?

If you think you see a connection between inoculate and ocular ("of or relating to the eye"), you are not mistaken—both words look back to oculus, the Latin word for "eye." But what does the eye have to do with inoculation? Our answer lies in the original use of inoculate in Middle English: "to insert a bud in a plant for propagation." Latin oculus was sometimes applied to things that were seen to resemble eyes, and one such thing was the bud of a plant. Inoculate was later applied to other forms of engrafting or implanting, including the introduction of vaccines as a preventative against disease.

Choose the Right Synonym for inoculate

infuse, suffuse, imbue, ingrain, inoculate, leaven mean to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout.

infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.

a room suffused with light

imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.

imbue students with intellectual curiosity

ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.

clung to ingrained habits

inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.

an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

a serious play leavened with comic moments

Example Sentences

inoculated them with the idea that the individual can always make a difference in this world

Recent Examples on the Web The oral polio vaccine also can be advantageous in areas with poor sanitation because the weakened live virus can be excreted in feces of a person who got the oral polio vaccine for eight weeks, helping to inoculate other unvaccinated people exposed to it, according to Chin-Hong. —

Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2022 There are only a handful of other examples worldwide of scientists attempting to catch and inoculate endangered wildlife for conservation. —

Christina Larson, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2023 Additionally, interviews with financial industry experts suggest JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon’s comment that the bank’s First Republic rescue marked the end of the recent market turbulence will not inoculate the banking system from further consolidation. —

Peter Cohan, Forbes, 3 May 2023 On one hand, the Covid-19 vaccine was developed in less than a year and has since fully inoculated over 230 million Americans, the fastest, most extensive vaccine rollout in history. —

Cameron Sabet, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Apr. 2023 The drum and mixing paddles can handle stucco and mortar, or it can be used for mixing animal feed or inoculating seed. —

Kate Morgan, Popular Mechanics, 26 Apr. 2023 Unaffected grapes are first harvested in September to make the base wine and other grapes stay on the vine to become inoculated with botrytis. —

Mike Desimone And Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2023 Cost includes three logs that are inoculated with oyster, shiitake and chestnut mushroom spawn. —

Joanne Kempinger Demski, Journal Sentinel, 13 Apr. 2023 The plaintiffs’ lawyers have already tried to inoculate jurors against that theory, calling witnesses who recall no embers in the air at the time fires were igniting around Gates and other communities, miles to the west of the Beachie Creek fire. —

Tsicking, oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inoculate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.