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as in to plant
to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set a malcontent who inculcated in his offspring an abiding distrust of all civil authority

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb inculcate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of inculcate are implant, infix, inseminate, and instill. While all these words mean "to introduce into the mind," inculcate implies persistent or repeated efforts to impress on the mind.

tried to inculcate in him high moral standards

Where would implant be a reasonable alternative to inculcate?

While the synonyms implant and inculcate are close in meaning, implant implies teaching that makes for permanence of what is taught.

implanted a love of reading in her students

In what contexts can infix take the place of inculcate?

In some situations, the words infix and inculcate are roughly equivalent. However, infix stresses firmly inculcating a habit of thought.

infixed a chronic cynicism

When is it sensible to use inseminate instead of inculcate?

The meanings of inseminate and inculcate largely overlap; however, inseminate applies to a sowing of ideas in many minds so that they spread through a class or nation.

inseminated an unquestioning faith in technology

When might instill be a better fit than inculcate?

The words instill and inculcate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, instill stresses gradual, gentle imparting of knowledge over a long period of time.

instill traditional values in your children

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 inculcate Lammy’s education inculcated in him the rituals and expectations of the British establishment. Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025 This is a unique public-private partnership effort which involves conservation organizations such as the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to inculcate environmental education across the country. Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024 In his autobiography, Franklin recounts his plan to inculcate virtue and expel vice. Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 1 Dec. 2024 Unapologetic in its rejection of discretion regarding gore, the series inculcates Julia Kristeva’s theory of the abject wherein a transgression of boundaries between subjectivity and objectivity, the self and the other, is enabled. Sakhi Thirani, JSTOR Daily, 22 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for inculcate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inculcate
Verb
  • Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner embraces melancholy in new album The music of the indie rock band Japanese Breakfast is suffused with longing.
    NPR Staff, NPR, 22 Mar. 2025
  • His dialogue was abundant and suffused with paradox and irony.
    Elaine Woo, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • France’s immediate support is a payoff from seeds Carney planted early in his leadership.
    Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 29 Apr. 2025
  • From 1875 to 1929 it was delineated by a simple circle outlined in chalk (hence the name), but today the circle is much more esteemed with presentation stands and roses planted in the shape of a horseshoe.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • And yet, the drum beats on, at least for the band’s show, stacked with decades of generational smashes without any of the wear that a life in rock superstardom can imbue.
    Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 13 Apr. 2025
  • At the entrance, visitors are met with marble imbued with terrazzo, achieved through a unique process of crushing part of the old marble and mixing it with cement.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The mosquitoes can breed in standing water, so public health officials are asking that county residents allow vector control technicians to provide free inspections and advice, Nolasco said.
    Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Tree Hollows Tree hollows can collect rainwater and provide the perfect place for mosquitoes to breed.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Serving as an influential authority in the field of environmental restoration, disinfection, and bioremediation, ITS environmental services has built a steady reputation for effective professionalism infused with kindness.
    William Mullane, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • With that thinking in mind, Dove infused its body wash with millions of teeny-tiny droplets that metaphorically and literally fill in the cracks.
    Dianna Singh, Allure, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Some parents worry that Alexa's high tolerance for rudeness instills poor behavior in their kids, according to Quartz.
    Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Though the sisters have indistinguishable hairstyles, Davis instills her characters with completely distinct personalities without being over-the-top about it, in ways only a master can.
    Barry Levitt, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • That rapid transformation is embedded in one business philosophy of Hart’s: flexibility.
    Xandra Harbet, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • China, by contrast, is the factory of the world—deeply embedded in global supply chains, commodity flows, and infrastructure networks.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • This transition allows women to root their worth internally rather than outsourcing it to external achievements.
    Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Often called French Tarragon, this herb is easy to root from a cutting if a friend will share.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inculcate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inculcate. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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