inculcate

verb

in·​cul·​cate in-ˈkəl-ˌkāt  ˈin-(ˌ) 

inculcated; inculcating

transitive verb

: to teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions

inculcation

ˌin-(ˌ)kəl-ˈkā-shən 

noun

inculcator

in-ˈkəl-ˌkā-tər 

ˈin-(ˌ)kəl-

noun

Did you know?

Sometimes before a lesson sinks in, you’ve got to go over it in your mind for a long time. The same is true for when you want to make a path: you have to walk over it again and again. The connection between walking and learning is at the heart of inculcate, which comes from a form of the Latin verb inculcare, meaning “to tread on.” In Latin, inculcare possesses both literal and figurative meanings, referring to either the act of walking over something or to that of impressing something upon the mind, often by way of steady repetition. It is the figurative sense that survives with inculcate, which was first used in English in the 16th century. Since then, the word has kept the meaning of impressing facts, ideas, or ideals on someone through repetition. If you have trouble remembering inculcate’s definition, you may find it helpful to know that it’s a synonym of the word instill (“to impart gradually”), which shares the Latin prefix in-.

Synonyms

• endue
• indue
• imbue
• infuse
• ingrain
• engrain
• inoculate
• invest
• steep
• suffuse

Choose the Right Synonym for inculcate

implant, inculcate, instill, inseminate, infix mean to introduce into the mind.

implant implies teaching that makes for permanence of what is taught.

implanted a love of reading in her students

inculcate implies persistent or repeated efforts to impress on the mind.

tried to inculcate in him high moral standards

instill stresses gradual, gentle imparting of knowledge over a long period of time.

instill traditional values in your children

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

infix stresses firmly inculcating a habit of thought.

infixed a chronic cynicism

Examples of inculcate in a Sentence

The teacher inculcated in her students the importance of good study habits.

dedicated teachers inculcating young minds with a love of learning

Recent Examples on the Web

This is generally seen as a positive, a sign that there’s a noble human tendency to be guided by our own internal moral compass, to remain faithful to the beliefs inculcated or passed on to us by our parents, caregivers, or cultural upbringing. —Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

In his autobiography, Franklin recounts his plan to inculcate virtue and expel vice. —Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 1 Dec. 2024

Her winding life path inculcated her with adaptability and open-mindedness, but constantly changing environments resulted in a questionable sense of self-identity. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2024

The Palestinians are creating the terrorists by inculcating their children with hatred and demonizing Jews. —Evan Nierman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin inculcatus, past participle of inculcare, literally, to tread on, from in- + calcare to trample, from calc-, calx heel

First Known Use

1539, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

inculcate

verb

in·​cul·​cate in-ˈkəl-ˌkāt  ˈin-(ˌ)kəl- 

inculcated; inculcating

: to teach by frequent repetition

inculcated a deep sense of responsibility in their children

inculcation

ˌin-(ˌ)kəl-ˈkā-shən 

noun