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as in to plant
to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set a malcontent who inculcated in his offspring an abiding distrust of all civil authority

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb inculcate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of inculcate are implant, infix, inseminate, and instill. While all these words mean "to introduce into the mind," inculcate implies persistent or repeated efforts to impress on the mind.

tried to inculcate in him high moral standards

Where would implant be a reasonable alternative to inculcate?

While the synonyms implant and inculcate are close in meaning, implant implies teaching that makes for permanence of what is taught.

implanted a love of reading in her students

In what contexts can infix take the place of inculcate?

In some situations, the words infix and inculcate are roughly equivalent. However, infix stresses firmly inculcating a habit of thought.

infixed a chronic cynicism

When is it sensible to use inseminate instead of inculcate?

The meanings of inseminate and inculcate 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

When might instill be a better fit than inculcate?

The words instill and inculcate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, instill stresses gradual, gentle imparting of knowledge over a long period of time.

instill traditional values in your children

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 inculcate This is a unique public-private partnership effort which involves conservation organizations such as the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to inculcate environmental education across the country. Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024 Roth said employees at the charity would have to be expressing and inculcating religious doctrine, such as requiring participation in a prayer before a meal is served at a soup kitchen. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025 Roth said employees at the charity would have to be expressing and inculcating religious doctrine, such as requiring participation in a prayer before a meal is served at a soup kitchen. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025 This approach, driven by the following strategies, can help inculcate a culture of innovation and transform teams into innovation champions. Sivakumar Ramakrishnan, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inculcate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inculcate
Verb
  • The news people are announcing on repeat a mantra suffused with an English lilt in their mouths, that the fires haven’t gorged themselves on the rainforests like this in over half a century.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2025
  • What makes the series so delightful is Osman’s wicked sense of humor, and the empathy suffused throughout.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • And Aleesha spontaneously planted a kiss on Luke while celebrating their successful covert operation to get Karina’s laptop.
    Claire Franken, TVLine, 10 July 2025
  • Each household is eligible to receive two trees, and the trees may be planted on resident’s private property only.
    Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Louis Thuillier was distraught by his inability to know the plight of his subjects; to view the photographs from the distance of a century can imbue the viewer with a similar melancholy.
    Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 13 July 2025
  • By creating a fuller picture which centers Medusa in her own story, Hynes creates a more dexterous Medusa, one imbued with more agency and less tragedy.
    Irenosen Okojie July 11, Literary Hub, 11 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
  • Get creative: Try infusing water with fruit or herbs for a better taste.
    Helen Carefoot, Verywell Health, 11 July 2025
  • The premise of this all-foam mattress is the use of green tea and charcoal infused in its memory foam layers to keep out moisture that could result in germ and odor buildup.
    Julia Forbes, Wired News, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • This tragedy instilled a lifelong mission to serve others—first through medicine and later through philanthropy.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 10 July 2025
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
  • 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

“Inculcate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inculcate. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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