instills

present tense third-person singular of instill
as in plants
to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set a charismatic leader who instilled in his followers a passionate commitment to the cause

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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 instills The heart-pounding, Reznoresque theme instills a sense of urgency in the viewer to match that of the kitchen crew. Alison Herman, Variety, 25 June 2026 After all, the liberal arts are, at their root, about giving people a well-rounded education that deeply instills critical thinking, communication, adaptability, and analytical skills. Jamie Merisotis, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026 Davis explains that the knowledge of the show's impact coupled with the legacy of those who paved the way for them, like James Earl Jones and Cicely Tyson, instills a sense of pride in the cast. Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026 The taboo is calling into question what a society instills in its people—all of its people—without their even noticing. Nina Mesfin, New Yorker, 7 June 2026 An explosion targeting the headquarters of a political party instills fear in a part of the population. ABC News, 11 May 2026 Music is something that instills an immediate reaction. Matt Thompson, SPIN, 4 May 2026 Success instills success and successful outcomes instill pride. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026 Lockwood’s music instills joy in listening, and such revitalized desire leaves your body freshly tender, sensitive to whatever pierces the ear. Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instills
Verb
  • The story follows one family who plants bulbs, seeds and seedlings to create a rainbow of blooming flowers.
    Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • Space plants 12 inches apart and water at the base to prevent powdery mildew.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Wet clothing doesn’t cause UTIs, but staying in wet clothing, which breeds more moisture and bacteria, does.
    Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • With age comes experience, however, and Arteta will have a good feel for the influence that breeds.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Because there’s something about the college environment that really inculcates hierarchy.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
Verb
  • Khakar then embeds these reminders into her personal calendar and asks AI to organize her pitch schedule around the rest of her life.
    Christine Haughney Dare-Bryan, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Their proprietary InfuseRFID technology, which embeds durable, washable RFID tags directly into garments, won the Sustainable Product Award at the 2026 SEAL Business Sustainability Awards.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Instead, Nowell roots the band’s sound in the mid-’90s and keeps his vocal mannerisms as close to Bradley’s as possible.
    Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026
  • Cousteau roots his pitch in economics.
    Justin Worland, Time, 28 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Instills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instills. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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