as in to suffuse
to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle inoculated them with the idea that the individual can always make a difference in this world

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb inoculate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of inoculate are imbue, infuse, ingrain, leaven, and suffuse. While all these words mean "to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout," inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.

an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

In what contexts can imbue take the place of inoculate?

While in some cases nearly identical to inoculate, 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 inoculate?

The words infuse and inoculate can be used in similar contexts, but infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

When is it sensible to use ingrain instead of inoculate?

The words ingrain and inoculate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.

clung to ingrained habits

When might leaven be a better fit than inoculate?

The meanings of leaven and inoculate largely overlap; however, leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

a serious play leavened with comic moments

When could suffuse be used to replace inoculate?

Although the words suffuse and inoculate have much in common, 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 inoculate Although the virus readily kills poultry, the pig had no symptoms, as expected from experiments that showed pigs inoculated with this strain of H5N1, known as 2.3.4.4b, do not get sick. Byscience News Staff, science.org, 7 Nov. 2024 Nasal flu vaccines are routinely used to inoculate kids in Europe. Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024 But with bokashi composting, organic matter is placed in an airtight composter or bucket, covered with a natural bran inoculated with beneficial microorganisms, and fermented for 2 weeks. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Jan. 2025 Despite the toll that snake bites take, the treatment for envenomings has been the same for more than a century: Antibodies collected from horses or other animals inoculated with sub-lethal amounts of venom. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inoculate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inoculate
Verb
  • The Federalist Papers, the 85 essays written to persuade voters to support ratification, were suffused with this optimism.
    Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Girls trying to learn to negotiate the world, repressive institutions in cavernous spaces and obscurely malevolent authority figures, all suffused in an atmosphere of menace, are her recurring motifs.
    Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Comme des Garçons, Undercover and Rick Owens infused their collections with deep emotion, reminding us of the power of originality and sensitivity.
    Rhonda Richford, WWD, 12 Mar. 2025
  • The art market is undergoing significant transformations as younger collectors infuse it with fresh perspectives and modern investment strategies.
    Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Image Clooney tried to inculcate his father’s values.
    Thea Traff, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
  • This approach, driven by the following strategies, can help inculcate a culture of innovation and transform teams into innovation champions.
    Sivakumar Ramakrishnan, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Concept Validation: Instead of investing resources in unproven ideas, AI rapidly evaluates concepts against historical data and market patterns.
    Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Coach Pat Skerry said the College of Charleston used $1.1 million in NIL revenue to build its roster and UNC Wilmington invested $500,000 into its team.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In Scotland, for example, Islay peat is thought to imbue whisky with a different flavor than peat sourced from the Highlands.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The timeless pattern is the easiest way to imbue your look with the sport’s preppy aesthetic.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Inoculate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inoculate. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

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