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inculcate

[ in-kuhl-keyt, in-kuhl-keyt ]
/ ɪnˈkʌl keɪt, ˈɪn kʌlˌkeɪt /
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See synonyms for: inculcate / inculcation on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), in·cul·cat·ed, in·cul·cat·ing.
to implant by repeated statement or admonition; teach persistently and earnestly (usually followed by upon or in): to inculcate virtue in the young.
to cause or influence (someone) to accept an idea or feeling (usually followed by with): Socrates inculcated his pupils with the love of truth.
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Origin of inculcate

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 FROM inculcate

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH inculcate

inculcate , indoctrinate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use inculcate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for inculcate

inculcate
/ (ˈɪnkʌlˌkeɪt, ɪnˈkʌlkeɪt) /

verb
(tr) to instil by forceful or insistent repetition

Derived forms of inculcate

inculcation, nouninculcator, noun

Word Origin for inculcate

C16: from Latin inculcāre to tread upon, ram down, from in- ² + calcāre to trample, from calx heel
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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