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 Thank you for raising such good children and instilling good values in us. Sabienna Bowman, People.com, 10 July 2025 In Ruben Amorim though, Mata feels United have such a coach ready to instill such a culture. Mark Critchley, New York Times, 7 July 2025 While the passion for football is instilled in the identities of so many nations that comprise the continent, and the women who play football, the sport hasn’t always been as accessible for women (and, in many ways, that still rings true today). Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 11 July 2025 Waite also instills a firmwide mission of helping clients live more intentional and generous lives. Sergei Klebnikov, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for instill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instill
Verb
  • The old sandy beach was converted into open space where the county is planting native vegetation and creating bioswales and rain gardens, which help reduce runoff.
    Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 23 July 2025
  • To avoid this, consider planting fast-growing crops in succession.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 July 2025
Verb
  • These useless jobs in turn breed further useless work.
    Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • For almost 10,000 years, people in the Arctic have kept dogs for hunting and sledding, breeding them for desirable traits.
    Rudy Molinek, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 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 organization has already changed laws in 21 states—red, blue, and purple—working across political divides to embed economic justice into survivor support systems.
    Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • These roles ensure her presence remains embedded in the strategic direction of the brand, even as day-to-day editorial oversight transitions to a new generation.
    Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Those connections made by Ragsdale were also deeply rooted with other camps in the area.
    Abby Roedel, People.com, 19 July 2025
  • He will be missed at Duke, but Blue Devils fans will continue rooting him on in Dallas.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Instill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instill. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

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