indoctrinate
in-DOK-trun-ayt
/ɪnˈdɒk.trɪ.neɪt/
To teach a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically and without questioning.
Implies systematic ideological conditioning that suppresses critical thinking, debate, and independent inquiry.
The story behind the word. In the 17th century, 'indoctrinate' simply meant to instruct or teach knowledge. However, as modern authoritarian states turned schooling into ideological propaganda in the 20th century, the word acquired its modern sense of forcing rigid dogma while barring debate.
Word relationships
- brainwash: Brainwashing uses severe coercion and trauma to break mental resolve, while indoctrination relies on repeated educational dogma.
- dogmatize: Dogmatize means to assert opinions authoritatively, whereas indoctrinate focuses on forcing others to accept them without question.
- educate: Education fosters critical analysis, open inquiry, and evidence-based thinking.
- enlighten: Enlightening encourages broad understanding and intellectual freedom.
Commonly confused with
- instruct: Instructing shares knowledge or skills impartially, whereas indoctrinating forces uncritical acceptance of dogma.
Word family
- indoctrination (noun): The systematic process of teaching beliefs uncritically.
- indoctrinated (adjective): Holding uncritical beliefs as a result of systematic conditioning.
Collocations
- indoctrinate children
- politically indoctrinate
- attempt to indoctrinate
- systematically indoctrinate
Example sentences
- "Totalitarian governments often restructure public school curricula to indoctrinate children with state ideology from an early age." Political history analysis
- "The group's leaders isolated recruits from their families to systematically indoctrinate them into accepting extreme dogma." Sociological study of cults
Memory hook
Lock someone IN a DOCTRINE until they accept every belief without question. Force uncritical acceptance of dogma.
When not to use
Do not use for open-ended teaching where students are encouraged to ask questions and challenge ideas.
Fun facts
- The Latin root 'docere' (to teach) is also the origin of 'doctor', 'document', and 'docile'.
Related words
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