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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 Nothing left to do but build and inculcate my fantastical atoms, unable to catch a break. Hazlitt, 15 May 2025 Roth said employees at the charity would have to be expressing and inculcating religious doctrine, such as requiring participation in a prayer before a meal is served at a soup kitchen. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 31 Mar. 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 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 See All Example Sentences for inculcate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inculcate
Verb
  • His narration is a constant pleasure — mournful, wry, and suffused with a world-weary poetry.
    Leila Latif, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Does that ideal suffuse your work?
    Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • And so Mona, feeling a bit intimidated, planted herself in front of the painting.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The video, uploaded on August 8 by the dog's owner under @loki_and_nova, shows the American bulldog sitting upright in the backseat of a car, its front paws planted on the center console.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • But to those who hold them, especially in public safety, challenge coins are imbued with stories, camaraderie and honor.
    Divyaditya Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Using restrained color palettes, striking natural materials, and warm textures, the firm imbues its interiors with a peaceful elegance and feeling of comfort.
    Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Rispoli and the 3-year-old Irish-bred also teamed to win the La Jolla Handicap on May 3.
    Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Snails are often slow to breed in the lab, but golden apple snails are an invasive species and thrive in that environment, per co-author Alice Accorsi, a molecular biologist at the University of California, Davis.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 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
  • And kids can develop disordered eating despite a parent's best effort to instill healthy eating habits.
    Adrienne Farr, Parents, 5 Sep. 2025
  • And, for Williams, taking your time with aging has long been instilled in her.
    Essence, Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Amazon is also prototyping AI smart glasses that will guide its delivery drivers on the road, embedding a small screen in their field of vision [Yahoo Finance, 2025].
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
  • By embedding solar modules into building facades, cities can unlock vast additional energy potential without requiring new land or altering urban aesthetics.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Be a Good Sport Even if—especially if—you’re rooting against your hosts’ team, don’t be obnoxious in your fandom.
    Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Legacy cultivators often use heritage brands to root themselves in cannabis history and culture.
    Sara Payan, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inculcate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inculcate. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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