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
Stories that are ingrained in their mind, never to be forgotten. Benjamin MacK-Jackson, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Nov. 2024 Longoria cited her long history of political activism, explaining that it was ingrained in her family. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 22 Sep. 2024 Usually, an incoming manager takes over a team that is broken and in need of new direction, but Maresca had led Leicester to the Championship title with a winning style of football that was ingrained in the players. Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 20 Nov. 2024 The key was leveraging the operational strengths and customer-centric principles ingrained in BPO and reimagining them within a digital framework. Mansour Alajmi, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ingrain 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ingrain
Verb
  • 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
Verb
  • His arrest has inspired a wave of online merchandise, including keychains, mugs, and clothing, some featuring the chilling words etched on the bullets linked to the crime.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
  • The balustrade at the far end affords one of the great panoramas of the Eternal City, with the dome of St. Peter’s etched on the horizon.
    David Laskin, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Ongoing political chaos will entrench the country’s economic and social problems—and leave Seoul woefully unprepared for Trump.
    Victor Cha, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Ball-stoppers rarely align with the principles of winning basketball, and Randle’s tendencies are as entrenched as ever.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Lau Family-style dining is an inherent part of Asian culture and one of the best ways to partake in a joyous gathering is over lau.
    Christina Liao, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2024
  • With attackers increasing the scale and sophistication of their operations, there is an inherent need for more collaboration among security vendors to not only streamline and simplify security efforts but also to deliver more comprehensive risk protection for customers.
    Michael Nicosia, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The crystalized treatment is infused with vitamins that nourish the scalp, and its exfoliating texture helps remove buildup.
    Jenny Berg, Allure, 31 Dec. 2024
  • The book is infused with the urgency of a man who has witnessed the worst which humanity has to offer yet holds fast to an unwavering belief in humanity’s potential to change.
    Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The $9,000 Rolex Submariner, engraved with Reeves’ name, turned up in a police raid on four houses in Santiago.
    Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024
  • In the first category, persistence paid off for metal detectorists in Wales and Denmark, who uncovered a 300-year-old silver thimble engraved with a message of enduring love and a 1,500-year-old gold ring that may be linked to the Frankish Merovingian dynasty, respectively.
    Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • In addition to challenging coursework, colleges value intellectual vitality—an intrinsic passion for learning that manifests through independent projects, academic competitions, and research.
    Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Crypto skeptics say that, unlike most other commodities, bitcoin has no intrinsic use and is not crucial to the functioning of the U.S. economy.
    Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss and Lisa Pauline Mattackal, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The seedlings’ roots have been inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi, which provide the plants with soil nutrients and water in exchange for carbon, and produce protein-rich, edible mushrooms.
    Alexa Phillips, WIRED, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Jenner inoculated an 8-year-old boy using matter from a cowpox sore on the hand of a milkmaid.
    Chris Mueller, Austin American-Statesman, 29 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near ingrain

Cite this Entry

“Ingrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ingrain. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

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