ingrain 1 of 2

variants also engrain
1
as in to inculcate
to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle the journalism professor has long ingrained his students with a deep respect for their chosen profession

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to etch
to produce a vivid impression of the third-world privation he had witnessed forever ingrained itself upon the young doctor's memory

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

ingrain

2 of 2

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb ingrain differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ingrain are imbue, infuse, inoculate, leaven, and suffuse. While all these words mean "to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout," ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.

clung to ingrained habits

When is it sensible to use imbue instead of ingrain?

The words imbue and ingrain are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.

imbue students with intellectual curiosity

Where would infuse be a reasonable alternative to ingrain?

While the synonyms infuse and ingrain are close in meaning, infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

In what contexts can inoculate take the place of ingrain?

In some situations, the words inoculate and ingrain are roughly equivalent. However, inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.

an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

When is leaven a more appropriate choice than ingrain?

Although the words leaven and ingrain have much in common, leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

a serious play leavened with comic moments

When might suffuse be a better fit than ingrain?

The synonyms suffuse and ingrain are sometimes interchangeable, but suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.

a room suffused with light

Examples 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 ingrain
Verb
Ryan Miller, who owns the Bowman Building, is also ingrained in the watch history of Lancaster, Pa. Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 The first half of the series was about Biles reclaiming her voice and unveiling the toxic culture that was ingrained in competitive gymnastics for decades. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Oct. 2024 Then came the 1960s, and Ethel Kennedy found herself in the intimate circle of events that would be ingrained in American history. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2024 It’s become a Coors Field anthem that will be forever ingrained within the culture of LoDo baseball. Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ingrain 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ingrain
Verb
  • Witness, by Whittaker Chambers This 1952 memoir is still thrust in the hands of budding young conservatives, as a means of inculcating them into the movement.
    Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2024
  • Sensing such threats, organizations are increasingly creating dedicated structures and processes to inculcate AI ethics proactively.
    Swanand Deodhar, Favour Borokini, Ben Waber, Harvard Business Review, 5 Aug. 2024
Verb
  • Each object within their home sparks etched memories and emotional tension.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
  • The high production cost is in large part due to the difficulty of growing silicon carbide crystals for the lenses and etching the waveguides to focus the projections onto your retina.
    Moin Roberts-Islam, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Recent efforts to address health disparities have run headlong into racist policies still entrenched in health systems.
    Kff Health News, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • But a practical solution will yield better results, because yards and landscaping are still entrenched in American life.
    Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • To put it another way: Animation can get away with a lot more because of its inherent otherworldliness.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
  • An onlooker snapped a picture, which seemed to exemplify the lawlessness that is inherent to why some people love sideshows and others hate them.
    Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Beyond showing love to Pam Anderson, Bey also infused the video with a few easter eggs.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2024
  • The rich savory sweetness of roasted onions teams up with onion soup mix and everybody’s favorite casserole topping—French’s fried onions—to infuse this bird with oniony flavor from the inside out.
    Nicole Hopper, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • To track the flow of and payment for goods, tradespeople then used cylinders with designs engraved upon them.
    Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
  • The brand will also soon launch a range of hair accessories including hair clips and pins, that can be engraved with initials, giving Buly’s popular lip balms and soaps a run for their money as go-to Christmas gifts.
    Sandra Salibian, WWD, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Colorado wildlife experts are at odds over whether a ballot measure to ban the hunting of certain wildcats would help or hurt the formidable felines that have long been intrinsic to Rocky Mountain ecosystems.
    Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Kudla said activity and community are intrinsic to the brand’s success.
    Samantha Conti, WWD, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • The more people who vote early, they're effectively inoculated themselves against disinformation that might be inclined to be intended to help them self-suppress their vote or confuse them about how to vote.
    CBS News, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2024
  • Related articles Can people be ‘inoculated’ against misinformation?
    ByKai Kupferschmidt, science.org, 31 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near ingrain

Cite this Entry

“Ingrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ingrain. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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