ingrain 1 of 2

variants also engrain
Definition of ingrainnext
1
as in to suffuse
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

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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

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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

Example 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
And, on the flip side, some daughters were pushing themselves more than their parents would ever push them, and how that’s ingrained so early on. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 25 Jan. 2026 In a world of constant disruption, long-term advantage goes to leaders who ingrain healthy habits and never negotiate them, regardless of circumstance. Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026 The standard shot of the set is ingrained in your memory and can be instantly recalled, but try to imagine physically entering that set through a different door and meandering around, without referencing the original image and triangulating where everything is supposed to be. Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026 Perhaps it’s ingrained in me via osmosis from parents and grandparents. Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ingrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ingrain
Verb
  • Your energetic 5th house hosts the meeting of Mercury and Pluto, suffusing your hobbies with cosmic delight.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Reid seemed to truly believe, despite the partisanship that suffused the column, that the Senate had been badly damaged.
    Jon Ralston, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • In addition to keeping an eye on your water temperature, the risk of etching can be reduced by using a gentle dish detergent.
    Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Schaub etched his name in Texans history as the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards (23,221) and passing touchdowns (124).
    Sam Warren, Houston Chronicle, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Look for strong sturdy leaves that have a nice shape and that are rooted well in the soil.
    Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
  • This will eliminate the potential for issues related to root development and seed germination.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The Taos is peppy enough to move along on the open road, considering the inherent limitations of the segment.
    James Raia, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Since 1987, governments around the world have separated the provision and regulation of air traffic control to eliminate the inherent conflict of interest in self-regulation.
    Marc Scribner, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • We sociologists infamously inculcate our innocent students with communistic ideals.
    Wendy Nelson Espeland, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Patriotism is a value that an IP-dependent tech company fighting Chinese rivals might well be happy to see inculcated in its employees.
    Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The necklace features a ruby on one side—representing Camilla’s July birthstone—and on the other side, the initials of her five grandchildren are engraved.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The center is engraved in a pattern of undulating rays emanating from the hour and minute guichets (windows), meant to resemble the edges of clouds pierced through with sunlight.
    Carol Besler, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Her experience with cotton and with cotton fields in southern Texas accompanies the evolution of the character of my paternal grandmother, Petra Peña, a double rock embedded in her very name.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
  • These gains will only accelerate over the next few years as AI becomes further embedded in global supply networks.
    Paul Hudson, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The unique mineral composition also gives the stones an intrinsic ability to curl along their trajectory.
    Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • So even Socrates, in his defense of the intrinsic goodness of justice, emphasizes the crucial role played by visibility and the corrupting power of hiddenness and anonymity.
    Paul Rosenzweig, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ingrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ingrain. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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