Synonyms of inoculate

inoculate

verb

i-ˈnä-kyə-ˌlāt 

as in to suffuse

to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• suffuse
• infuse
• inculcate
• invest
• imbue
• fill
• engrain
• steep
• flood
• ingrain
• indue
• charge
• overwhelm
• endue
• plant
• instill
• invigorate
• saturate
• enliven
• drown
• animate
• impregnate
• leaven
• permeate
• submerge
• pervade
• implant
• inundate
• deluge

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deprive
• eliminate
• remove
• take (away)
• divest
• clear
• strip
• empty

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb inoculate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of inoculate are imbue, infuse, ingrain, leaven, and suffuse. While all these words mean "to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout," inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.

an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

In what contexts can imbue take the place of inoculate?

While in some cases nearly identical to inoculate, 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 inoculate?

The words infuse and inoculate can be used in similar contexts, but infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

When is it sensible to use ingrain instead of inoculate?

The words ingrain and inoculate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.

clung to ingrained habits

When might leaven be a better fit than inoculate?

The meanings of leaven and inoculate largely overlap; however, leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

a serious play leavened with comic moments

When could suffuse be used to replace inoculate?

Although the words suffuse and inoculate have much in common, suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.

a room suffused with light

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of inoculate

Polio vaccinations wrap up in Gaza as officials try to inoculate 90% of children under age 10 Children are receiving two drops of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), which has been used for outbreak response under the WHO's Emergency Use Listing Procedure (EUL) approval since March 2021. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 19 Feb. 2025

Scientists could inoculate Enceladus using a probe—something that would melt through the icy crust to get to the liquid before opening. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2025

In a world of increasing unknowns, the inoculating effects of a college degree can be the difference between weathering a storm versus being swept away by it. —Judy D. Olian, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025

But the long-acting version now entering testing shows promise of lasting about three months, which, if proved safe and effective in human trials, could provide a way to inoculate whole regions. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!