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

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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

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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
Service is deeply ingrained in the farm community. Beth Ford, Time, 20 Aug. 2025 By the time Salah returned to England in 2017, gym work was fully ingrained in his life, inside and outside the club environment. Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025 History runs deep and is ingrained in every person and place here. Peter Kelly, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2025 For four years, Hufanga ingrained himself into the fabric of San Francisco. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ingrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ingrain
Verb
  • Notably, said Kriner, individuals who are inculcated with a sense of nihilism do not commit crimes to achieve an ideological goal.
    Odette Yousef, NPR, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Another important way is to inculcate mindfulness by observing anger as a passing emotion rather than being all consumed by it.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • Since 2012, certain players and games are forever etched in the memories of those who watched.
    Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The fragrance comes in a black bottle with metallic gold and copper details and his signature etched across the front.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • State constitutions likewise entrenched robust jury rights.
    Richard Lorren Jolly, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025
  • This fragmentation further entrenches geopolitical tensions and makes LNG and energy pipelines strategic assets on top of commercial projects.
    Earl Carr, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In other words, there’s a preference for growth companies with more inherent risk.
    Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
  • But what about the algorithm's inherent biases?
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The set-up could easily slip into grim melodrama, but Jackman infuses it with a pop-tastic fun.
    Leila Latif, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Best Memory Foam Mattress Zinus’s popular memory foam mattress has green tea extract infused into its top layer to maintain freshness.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Members are honored with their names engraved on a beautiful stone plaque displayed prominently on the property.
    Kris Slugg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The timepiece also has the team’s logo engraved onto the stainless-steel case back and houses the brand’s 32 caliber.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s something intrinsic about following that route from city to sea in a region where life and work and industry were dictated by the river for so long.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • From an intrinsic point of view, most of the Moon’s light is merely reflected light from the Sun.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Develop Character To Combat Cognitive Warfare Developing and strengthening character inoculates individuals.
    Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Certainly the effects may be more pronounced for teens, but there’s little evidence to suggest the brain is inoculated against the technology’s effects the moment users turn 18, and many vulnerable adults are at risk as well, such as those with sustained mental-health challenges.
    Albert Fox Cahn, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ingrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ingrain. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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