instills

Definition of instillsnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 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 Looking ahead in these ways instills a sense of forward momentum. Mark Travers, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2026 Still, scrolling through TMZ’s posts of congresspeople instills a strange rush of Schadenfreude. Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026 Home Depot leaned into a cultural narrative – a homeowner improving their home via a project instills pride, the company said. Alexandria Mansfield, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 Turn your backyard into your favorite getaway by using a combination of stone, wood, and water to create this picture-perfect scene that highlights nature and instills ambiance with the running water and crackle of fire from the fire pit. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2026 The endless descriptions of the sand’s pervasiveness, its grit, and its dryness, instills a real fear. James Folta, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instills
Verb
  • The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation plants peace poles in cities across the country, with an effort to create safe spaces for communities.
    Adam Thompson, CBS News, 11 May 2026
  • Disease-resistant and productive, plants fruit until killed by frost.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • The dogs had been housed at Ridglan Farms, which breeds beagles for biomedical research.
    Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 3 May 2026
  • Baseball is a copycat league, and success breeds imitators.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The device, called 3D-MIND, embeds groups of living neurons within a three-dimensional electronic scaffold designed to support communication between biological tissue and computing hardware.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026
  • Gone are the days of massive budgets and embeds with the Islamic State.
    Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • This is a high-spirited opening for curious neighbors and travelers alike, with a mischievous sense of fun that firmly roots guests in their destination.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Louisiana dirty rice is a tasty meat-and-rice dish that roots its flavor in aromatic Cajun seasoning and the holy trinity vegetables.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instills. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on instills

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster