instill

as in to plant
to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set a charismatic leader who instilled in his followers a passionate commitment to the cause

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb instill differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of instill are implant, inculcate, infix, and inseminate. While all these words mean "to introduce into the mind," instill stresses gradual, gentle imparting of knowledge over a long period of time.

instill traditional values in your children

When would implant be a good substitute for instill?

While in some cases nearly identical to instill, implant implies teaching that makes for permanence of what is taught.

implanted a love of reading in her students

Where would inculcate be a reasonable alternative to instill?

While the synonyms inculcate and instill are close in meaning, inculcate implies persistent or repeated efforts to impress on the mind.

tried to inculcate in him high moral standards

When could infix be used to replace instill?

Although the words infix and instill have much in common, infix stresses firmly inculcating a habit of thought.

infixed a chronic cynicism

In what contexts can inseminate take the place of instill?

The meanings of inseminate and instill 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

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 instill From an early age, Dave instilled Denise and her siblings with the importance of financial literacy. Alex Gurley, People.com, 26 June 2025 Actress Keke Palmer was a millionaire at just the age of 12, but she’s always stuck by a frugal lifestyle that her parents instilled in her. Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 24 June 2025 Colt got back to work, bringing the same energy and intensity his father instilled in him. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2025 More than a week after President Trump’s immigration raids first instilled terror in Los Angeles communities, the federal sweeps have had a profound chilling effect in the overwhelmingly Latino, working-class neighborhood just east of downtown. Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for instill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instill
Verb
  • Landscapers are spreading the good word: Never plant a Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana).
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 June 2025
  • How well plants are equipped to manage heat depends not only on the type of plant (cool-season vs. heat-loving plants) but also on their growth stage (newly planted vs. established and mature).
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • To buy reefs a little extra time, scientists are breeding both algae and corals to withstand more heat; some of this work is taking place in Florida.
    Rafe Pomerance, Sun Sentinel, 6 July 2025
  • They are also bred with other species to help select for cold tolerance or inflorescence (flower cluster) shape.
    Dr. Nick Goltz, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • Imbued with empathy, Canseco is poised to extend the ambassador mentality inculcated at the fair in her first-in-her-family journey to college.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • The event is also streaming on the PBS app, PBS.org and on PBS’ YouTube channel, which is embedded below.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
  • McGraw recently attracted attention when the show had a camera embedded with Immigration and Customs Enforcement during immigration raids in Los Angeles.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • At the time, this was assumed in some quarters to be related to the decision to replace driver Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto as Pierre Gasly’s team-mate in a 2025 season where Alpine is rooted to the bottom of the constructors’ championship.
    Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 4 July 2025
  • Take cuttings from woody herbs, such as rosemary and lavender, and root them in a well-draining medium, like perlite or moist sand.
    Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Instill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instill. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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