instil

1 of 2
in·​stil

chiefly British spelling of instill

instill

2 of 2

verb

in·​still in-ˈstil How to pronounce instill (audio)
instilled; instilling; instills

transitive verb

1
: to impart gradually
instilling a love of learning in children
2
: to cause to enter drop by drop
instill medication into the infected eye
instillation
ˌin(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce instill (audio)
-(ˌ)sti-
noun
instiller
in-ˈsti-lər How to pronounce instill (audio)
noun
instillment
in-ˈstil-mənt How to pronounce instill (audio)
noun

Synonyms of instil

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Verb

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Choose the Right Synonym for instil

implant, inculcate, instill, inseminate, infix mean to introduce into the mind.

implant implies teaching that makes for permanence of what is taught.

implanted a love of reading in her students

inculcate implies persistent or repeated efforts to impress on the mind.

tried to inculcate in him high moral standards

instill stresses gradual, gentle imparting of knowledge over a long period of time.

instill traditional values in your children

inseminate applies to a sowing of ideas in many minds so that they spread through a class or nation.

inseminated an unquestioning faith in technology

infix stresses firmly inculcating a habit of thought.

infixed a chronic cynicism

Examples of instil in a Sentence

Verb a charismatic leader who instilled in his followers a passionate commitment to the cause
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.
Verb
The heart-pounding, Reznoresque theme instills a sense of urgency in the viewer to match that of the kitchen crew. — Alison Herman, Variety, 25 June 2026 Steve instilled a sense of confidence in Holden, simply by believing in the young man. — Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026 What unites them is the belief that camps can help mold character and instill the values children will carry into adulthood. — Derek H. Alderman, The Conversation, 26 June 2026 Depending on the day or my mood or the person logging on, that cheesy sound of a door opening on creaky hinges could instill fear or joy (or some combination of the two) in my heart. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for instil

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Latin instillare, from in- + stillare to drip, from stilla drop

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of instil was in the 15th century

Rhymes for instil

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Browse Nearby Words

instigator
instil
instill
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instil. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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