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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Unlock enterprise-wide intelligence for long-term ROI For companies that go a step further to deeply ingrain AI implementation, AI contextualizes and integrates sustainability data across ERP systems to inform decisions on risk, resilience, and opportunity. Sophia Mendelsohn, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 The British and Shanghainese traditions of bespoke suiting remain deeply ingrained there. Eric Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025 There’s a quiet tension, even fear, among some Latino immigrants in this central Wisconsin city where they've been ingrained in the community for years. Rick Barrett, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025 From calls to getting directions, technology has been ingrained into everyday life. Lani Ngonethong, Twin Cities, 30 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
  • And with Çalhanoğlu carving his own legacy in northern Italy both on-and-off the field, his name may be etched in Italian folklore forever.
    William Jones, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Now, at the age of 43, Brækhus is ready to hang up her gloves, her far-reaching legacy already etched into boxing’s history books as the first-ever undisputed women’s world champion.
    George Ramsay, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The digital dirham likely further entrenches the US dollar’s dominance, because the UAE’s currency is pegged to the greenback, but gives US regulators less oversight over financial flows.
    Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • That smile is entrenched on Mann’s face these days and knocking it off is virtually impossible.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Regina Hall’s inherent Regina Hall–ness — her magnetic fusion of poise and charisma — never shows in One Battle After Another.
    Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
  • But the show's greatest asset is its stars, whose endearing real-life friendship pierces through the play’s inherent despair.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Try adding a spoon of Lion’s Brain Honey ― golden honey infused with lion’s mane mushrooms ― to your next cup of joe.
    Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The effect is to infuse the story with an undeniable and knowing nostalgia; how quaint, at Alma’s party, to find everyone debating matters of representational consequence.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Freshly engraved against the varnish, the images would have had considerable visual impact.
    Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Federal officials said anti-ICE messaging was engraved on rounds found near Jahn’s body.
    Michael Dorgan , Brooke Taylor, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The reinvention of key car parts has been intrinsic since the world championship began in 1950.
    Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Many wisdoms intrinsic to permaculture long predate the term—it cannot be understated how much stems from indigenous knowledge and was passed down from generations before, from these ancestral stewards who listened to, and trusted, the land.
    Catherine Habgood September 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • We’re almost inoculated by tragedy, although not in this case.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Instead, the committee said young children should receive one vaccine for chickenpox and a different shot known as MMR that inoculates against measles, mumps and rubella.
    Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ingrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ingrain. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!