indoctrinate
C1Formal, often used in critical, political, or sociological contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To teach a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically and without questioning them.
To imbue with a specific doctrine, ideology, or point of view, often through persistent instruction. The process typically discourages independent thought and aims to create conformity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term inherently suggests a one-sided, non-dialectical process of instruction. It is often, but not exclusively, used pejoratively to imply brainwashing or coercive persuasion. The focus is on the method and intent of the teaching, not the content itself (which could be political, religious, corporate, etc.).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation follow standard UK/US conventions.
Connotations
Equally strong negative connotations in both dialects when referring to imposing rigid ideologies. Can be used neutrally in contexts like military or corporate training, though the critical sense is more common.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties, common in academic, journalistic, and political discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] indoctrinates [Object (Person/Group)][Subject] indoctrinates [Object] with [Ideology/Doctrine][Subject] indoctrinates [Object] into [Group/Cult/Ideology]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not a strong idiom carrier. Related concepts: 'drink the Kool-Aid' (succumb to groupthink), 'party line' (doctrine to be followed).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could be used critically: 'The new CEO's program felt less like training and more like an attempt to indoctrinate employees into a cult of personality.'
Academic
Common in political science, sociology, education, and history: 'The study examined how totalitarian regimes use education systems to indoctrinate youth.'
Everyday
Used in discussions about politics, religion, or media: 'I worry these videos are trying to indoctrinate kids.'
Technical
Used in psychology and sociology with specific reference to mechanisms of social influence and belief formation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The extremist group sought to indoctrinate vulnerable youngsters.
- She accused the programme of trying to indoctrinate viewers with its political bias.
American English
- The regime indoctrinated soldiers with a fierce nationalist ideology.
- Parents were concerned the camp was indoctrinating kids into a cult.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'Indoctrinatingly' is virtually non-existent and unnatural.
American English
- N/A - 'Indoctrinatingly' is virtually non-existent and unnatural.
adjective
British English
- The indoctrinated followers refused to listen to any counter-evidence.
- He gave an indoctrinated response, parroting the party's official line.
American English
- After years in the organization, her thinking became completely indoctrinated.
- The manual was clearly an indoctrination tool.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Some people say that advertising can indoctrinate us to want things we don't need.
- The teacher did not want to indoctrinate her students; she wanted them to think for themselves.
- The documentary explored how authoritarian governments indoctrinate citizens through control of the media and education.
- He realized he had been indoctrinated into the group's beliefs without ever questioning them.
- The process of radicalisation often involves systematically indoctrinating individuals with a simplistic 'us vs. them' worldview.
- Critics argue that the charter school's curriculum is designed less to educate and more to indoctrinate students with a specific political philosophy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of IN-DOCTRINE-ATE: putting a specific DOCTRINE INside someone's mind.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEACHING IS IMPLANTING / PROGRAMMING (The learner is a passive vessel or a machine to be coded.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'обучать' (to teach/educate) or 'инструктировать' (to instruct). Closer to 'внушать (идеологию)', 'обрабатывать', or 'зомбировать' (colloquial for 'brainwash'). The Russian 'индоктринировать' is a direct loanword but is very bookish.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a synonym for neutral 'teach' or 'educate'. Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable (IN-doctrinate). Incorrect preposition: 'indoctrinate about' (use 'with' or 'into').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'indoctrinate' used MOST appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Mostly, yes. It implies uncritical acceptance and is often used critically. However, in contexts like initial military training ('indoctrinated into the corps ethos'), it can be more neutral, describing the instillation of core values.
'Educate' implies fostering knowledge, critical thinking, and understanding. 'Indoctrinate' implies teaching a fixed set of beliefs to be accepted without question, often suppressing critical analysis.
Typically not. 'Indoctrinate' is a transitive verb requiring an agent (someone who does the indoctrinating). One can 'become indoctrinated' through exposure to propaganda, but the process is usually framed as being done by an external source.
The noun is 'indoctrination' (e.g., 'political indoctrination'). The person who indoctrinates can be called an 'indoctrinator'.