Indoctrinate: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when teaching someone to accept a set of beliefs without questioning them. Frequently used in educational or ideological contexts.

• The government sought to indoctrinate the younger generation with its political agenda.
• Religious schools often aim to indoctrinate their students with specific beliefs.

Used in a negative sense when someone is being forced or manipulated into changing their beliefs or behaviors. Often associated with aggressive or coercive tactics.

• The cult leader was able to brainwash his followers into complete obedience.
• The prisoner claimed he was brainwashed during his time in captivity.

Used when someone is actively spreading propaganda to influence others. Implies a strategic and often biased dissemination of information.

• The state media is relentless in its efforts to propagandize the government's achievements.
• Activist groups often use social media to propagandize their messages.

Used in a more neutral or sometimes negative sense when someone is trained or accustomed to behave in a certain way. Commonly used in psychological or training contexts.

• The experiment aimed to condition the subjects to respond to a specific stimulus.
• Over time, society has conditioned us to accept certain norms.