INGRAIN Synonyms: 125 Similar and Opposite Words

ingrain 1 of 2

verb

(ˌ)in-ˈgrān

variants also engrain

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

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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as in to root

to set solidly in or as if in surrounding matter tried to ingrain traditional values in their children

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ingrain

2 of 2

adjective

ˈin-ˌgrān

as in inherent

being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing an ingrain skepticism that saves him from falling for every hoax that comes along

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Ultimately, this experience builds their awareness of potential risks and reinforces the importance of adhering to controls, creating a culture where improvement and vigilance are valued and ingrained in daily operations. —

Nancy Pulciano, Rolling Stone, 2 Jan. 2026 Mike ingrained himself in the Milwaukee music scene beginning in the '70s, most notably as guitarist for accomplished local R&B group The Esquires and a collaborator with local Buddy Holly impersonator Mark Shurilla, who died in 2012. —

Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 18 Dec. 2025 This sentiment is deeply ingrained and persists despite the continent’s urgent need to raise funds to rearm, replenish stocks, and modernize its defense industrial base since the onset of Russia’s war in Ukraine. —

Douglas Rediker, Foreign Affairs, 17 Dec. 2025 It should be ingrained in every officer who wears the badge. —

Dave Savini, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ingrain

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ingrain

Verb

Slow-attack tones emerge and are subsumed back within the haze, like single strands of a spiderweb zooming in and out of focus; the uppermost reaches are suffused in a delicate scrim of what sounds like electronic crickets.

— Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 14 Jan. 2026
Its pages are suffused with love for her mother and for the myriad anonymous Chinese sources and academics who help Chang in researching her historical projects — and suffered blowback as a result.

— Emily Feng, NPR, 13 Jan. 2026