inculcate

[ in-kuhl-keyt, in-kuhl-keyt ]
See synonyms for: inculcateinculcation on Thesaurus.com

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.

  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.

Origin of inculcate

1
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; see in-2, -ate1

Other words for inculcate

Other words from inculcate

  • in·cul·ca·tion, noun
  • in·cul·ca·tive [in-kuhl-kuh-tiv], /ɪnˈkʌl kə tɪv/, in·cul·ca·to·ry, adjective
  • in·cul·ca·tor, noun

Words that may be confused with inculcate

Words Nearby inculcate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use inculcate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inculcate

inculcate

/ (ˈɪnkʌlˌkeɪt, ɪnˈkʌlkeɪt) /


verb
  1. (tr) to instil by forceful or insistent repetition

Origin of inculcate

1
C16: from Latin inculcāre to tread upon, ram down, from in- ² + calcāre to trample, from calx heel

Derived forms of inculcate

  • inculcation, noun
  • inculcator, noun

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