Dictionary.com

inculcate

[ in-kuhl-keyt, in-kuhl-keyt ]
/ ɪnˈkʌl keɪt, ˈɪn kʌlˌkeɪt /
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.

QUIZZES

DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!

We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
Question 1 of 11
Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
owl
crow
piranha
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

Words nearby inculcate

incudal, incudectomy, incudes, incudomalleal, incudostapedial, inculcate, inculcation, inculpable, inculpate, incult, incumbency
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to inculcate

indoctrinate, instill, impart, educate, impress, communicate, plant, instruct, program, drill, inseminate, brainwash, teach, break down, shape up, work over

Example sentences from the Web for inculcate

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