inculcate

verb

in·​cul·​cate in-ˈkəl-ˌkāt How to pronounce inculcate (audio) ˈin-(ˌ) How to pronounce inculcate (audio)
inculcated; inculcating

transitive verb

: to teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions
inculcation noun
inculcator
in-ˈkəl-ˌkā-tər How to pronounce inculcate (audio)
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-.

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 Speech is part of an effort to inculcate Arizona’s youth on the dangers of antisemitism. 0:00 1:26 AD More than 700 Phoenix-area middle school children sat quietly Thursday morning in the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts' auditorium. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 27 Jan. 2024 His mother inculcated in him a reverence for American law enforcement. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024 It must be inculcated in the home, in the classroom and in the pulpit. Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2024 Such rage has been encouraged and inculcated by the fashionable movements ... Noah Rothman, National Review, 10 Nov. 2023 With its courtyards, 19th-century buildings and playing fields, the school aspires to be a haven from the strife outside its gates and inculcate its students with the values of its Quaker founders. Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2023 These steps constitute a widespread effort to inculcate a top-down ideology, anchored by a vision of Russia as a distinct civilization. Maria Snegovaya, Foreign Affairs, 16 Nov. 2023 The goal, initially, was to inculcate better water conservation and agricultural practices in this agrarian community. Karan Deep Singh, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2023 Hamas was there, governing and inculcating hatred through the education system. Roger Cohen Avishag Shaar-Yashuv, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inculcate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of inculcate was in 1539

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Dictionary Entries Near inculcate

Cite this Entry

“Inculcate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inculcate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inculcate

verb
in·​cul·​cate in-ˈkəl-ˌkāt How to pronounce inculcate (audio) ˈin-(ˌ)kəl- How to pronounce inculcate (audio)
inculcated; inculcating
: to teach by frequent repetition
inculcated a deep sense of responsibility in their children
inculcation noun

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