introject

verb

in·​tro·​ject ˌin-trə-ˈjekt How to pronounce introject (audio)
introjected; introjecting; introjects

transitive verb

: to incorporate (attitudes or ideas) into one's personality unconsciously
introjection
ˌin-trə-ˈjek-shən How to pronounce introject (audio)
noun

Examples of introject in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And yet the curious thing here with this new series is that Mr. Irwin has introjected those very same shadows from the contours into the very centers of his expanding arrays. — Lawrence Weschler, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from introjection, from International Scientific Vocabulary intro- + projection

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of introject was in 1924

Rhymes for introject

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Browse Nearby Words

introject
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Cite this Entry

“Introject.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/introject. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

introject

transitive verb
in·​tro·​ject ˌin-trə-ˈjekt How to pronounce introject (audio)
1
: to incorporate (attitudes or ideas) into one's personality unconsciously
2
: to turn toward oneself (the love felt for another) or against oneself (the hostility felt toward another)
introjection
-ˈjek-shən How to pronounce introject (audio)
noun
introjective
-ˈjek-tiv How to pronounce introject (audio)
adjective
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