Word: inculcate (verb)

Associations

The word "inculcate" means to teach or impress ideas, values, or habits into someone's mind by repeating them often.

• Example 1: Teachers try to inculcate good study habits in their students. This means teachers repeat and encourage habits so students remember.
• Example 2: Parents often inculcate respect for others in their children. This means they teach respect by example and words many times.
• Example 3: The coach inculcated teamwork as the most important value on the team. This means the coach emphasized teamwork repeatedly.

A similar word is "instill," which also means to gradually teach or introduce ideas. The difference is "instill" often feels softer or more gentle, while "inculcate" suggests stronger, repeated teaching.

Substitution

You can use these words instead of "inculcate" depending on context:

• instill (gentler, gradual teaching)
• implant (more physical or metaphorical placing of ideas)
• impress (focus on making a strong effect)
• teach (general word, less about repetition)

Deconstruction

• Root: The base is from Latin "inculcare," meaning "to tread on, to press in."
• Prefix: "in-" means "in" or "into."
• Root verb: "culcare" means "to tread" or "to press." So "inculcate" literally means to press ideas into someone's mind.

Inquiry

• Think about a value or habit you learned well. How was it inculcated in you?
• Can you think of a time when someone tried to inculcate an idea but it didn’t work? Why?
• How is inculcating different from just telling someone something once?