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 This path instills our culture, standards and patient-first philosophy from the start. Prof. Dr. Med. Mazda Farshad, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025 Ellis advises parents that even if teens make a few purchases that seem frivolous or foolish, instilling good financial habits is what’s most important. Yolande Clark-Jackson, Parents, 20 Oct. 2025 He is drawn to designers, such as the interior stylist Colin King, who seek to instill a space with a kind of wabi-sabi messiness—the equivalent of a rumpled haircut from the Sally Hershberger salon. Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025 Those revelations in 2022 further instilled in survivors a sense that SBC leadership betrayed them. Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for instill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instill
Verb
  • Not Watering Enough Many gardeners water fruit trees for the first few weeks after planting, but then significantly reduce watering or stop watering entirely.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Fall is a great time to plant daylilies because plants have a long time to establish roots before blooming, often resulting in improved flowering the first season.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Accrediting bodies, like the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, prohibit breeding white tigers, calling it harmful to welfare and conservation goals.
    Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • For Langdale, raising and breeding Lipizzans is both a responsibility and a joy.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • After the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newton, Conn., President Barack Obama had his then-Vice President Joe Biden meet with representatives of the video game industry to discuss whether their products somehow inculcated violence in society.
    Time, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Part of the emotional appeal of Reaganism was that there were left-of-center reprimands that seemed like an insult, an effort to inculcate shame, an effort to cast American history in a way that wasn’t sufficiently celebratory.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In industries like customer service or supply chain management, this could mean embedding AI into existing platforms to streamline workflows, augment human decision-making, or improve forecasting accuracy.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Critics point out that decades-old, secretive clique structures remain deeply embedded in the department.
    Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass cultivars root quickly in warm conditions.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The jury especially liked the way the dialogue’s shift in volume and tone established the visceral experience of the main character — deeply rooting the audience inside Drea’s perspective.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Instill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instill. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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