inculcate

[ in-kuhl-keyt, in-kuhl-keyt ]

verb (used with object)

, in·cul·cat·ed, in·cul·cat·ing.

1. to implant by repeated statement or admonition; teach persistently and earnestly (usually followed by upon or in ):

   to inculcate virtue in the young.

   Synonyms: ingrain, infix, instill

2. to cause or influence (someone) to accept an idea or feeling (usually followed by with ):

   Socrates inculcated his pupils with the love of truth.

inculcate

/ ˈɪnkʌlˌkeɪt; ɪnˈkʌlkeɪt /

verb

1. tr to instil by forceful or insistent repetition

Derived Forms

• ˈinculˌcator, noun
• ˌinculˈcation, noun

Other Words From

• incul·cation noun
• in·cul·ca·tive [in-, kuhl, -k, uh, -tiv], in·culca·tory adjective
• in·culca·tor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inculcate¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin inculcātus, past participle of inculcāre “to trample, impress, stuff in,” equivalent to in- “in” + culc- (variant, in noninitial position, of calc-, stem of calx “heel”) + -ātus past participle suffix; in- ², -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of inculcate¹

C16: from Latin inculcāre to tread upon, ram down, from in- ² + calcāre to trample, from calx heel

Example Sentences

To inculcate “patriotism” and martial pride, he invited retired soldiers to campus and proposed putting a battle tank on display.

From New York Times

It’s the freedom to use your tax dollars to fund schools that inculcate children in contempt for those who are different.

From Salon

Their goal is to inculcate schoolchildren or their communities with a wholly imaginary picture of a bygone America in which Black or LGBTQ+ people didn’t exist in mainstream society, so their concerns could be safely ignored.

From Los Angeles Times

As Sagan wrote in his 1985 novel Contact, an awareness of extraterrestrial life would serve to inculcate the “power of the planetary perspective.”

From Slate

"It was published deliberately and maliciously in order to injure and denigrate her reputation, and inculcate a culture of derision of women in politics," he added.

From BBC

Related Words

• impart
• indoctrinate
• instill