indoctrinate him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "indoctrinate him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is being taught or influenced to accept a particular set of beliefs or ideologies, often without critical examination. Example: "The organization aimed to indoctrinate him into their way of thinking through a series of workshops and seminars."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

I promise not to indoctrinate him.

HuffPost

Was it right for Krohn's parents to indoctrinate him so intensely in Republican thinking at such a young age?

Huffington Post

He'd dragged Ben along on road trips with his friends and had tried to indoctrinate him into the world of men with fishing rods and car parts and skin magazines and misogynistic diatribes that insulted his wife for the sake of their only son.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

They must've indoctrinated him in the wrong way".

The Guardian

Something went wrong in prison; they must have indoctrinated him.

The Guardian

John Ruskin endured a long, inescapable relationship with Margaret, his fanatically religious mother, who indoctrinated him from a young age in the hope he would go into the church.

The Guardian - Books

The L.R.A. had murdered Kwoyelo's father, kidnapped him as a young boy, and then indoctrinated him into the ranks of the rebel group by forcing him to kill friends and relatives.

The New Yorker

She takes him junking for treasures ("period, not mo-derne"), buys him lavish but slightly old mannish gifts, and indoctrinates him into important matters of taste (Colette, Trollope, Matisse, Mozart; Truffaut, not Welles).

The Guardian - Books

Yielding to the puppyish pleas of this fatherless young man, Johnny begins to teach Miguel self-defense, indoctrinating him in the Way of the Fist: strike first, strike hard, no mercy.

The New Yorker

I happily indoctrinated him by watching the old and new movies together and by buying a lot of cool Star Wars toys, including Hasbro's brilliant R2-D2 robot, lightsabres from the Sharper Image, and the Darth Vader helmet/mask that goes, "I am your father," and "You don't know the power of the dark side," in James Earl Jones's rich baritone.

The New Yorker

He manipulated and indoctrinated Malvo, taught him to shoot and took him on survival-training exercises.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "indoctrinate him" when you want to emphasize the systematic and often forceful nature of instilling beliefs, especially those that might be considered biased or dogmatic.

Common error

Avoid using "indoctrinate him" when a more neutral term like "teach him" or "inform him" would be more appropriate. "Indoctrinate" carries a negative connotation of imposing beliefs rather than educating.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indoctrinate him" functions as a verb phrase where "indoctrinate" is a transitive verb and "him" is the direct object. It describes the action of instilling beliefs or principles into someone, often with a negative connotation. As indicated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "indoctrinate him" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the action of instilling specific beliefs or ideologies into someone, often with a negative connotation. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English. Analysis of sources shows that it primarily appears in news and media contexts, where it's used to objectively describe a process of systematic instruction in particular beliefs, as demonstrated in the provided examples. While the term "indoctrinate" carries a negative weight, its application aims to convey the forceful and potentially biased nature of instilling such beliefs. When writing, it's best to avoid it unless that negative connotation is intended, and related phrases like "influence him" or "educate him" may offer more neutral alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indoctrinate him into

Indicates the specific belief system or ideology.

brainwash him

Implies forceful and manipulative influence, often erasing previous beliefs.

convert him

Suggests changing someone's religion or belief system.

influence him

A more general term for affecting someone's thoughts or actions.

persuade him

Involves convincing someone through reasoning or argument.

shape his thinking

Emphasizes influencing someone's thought processes.

manipulate him

Implies controlling someone's actions through deceitful means.

mold him

Implies shaping someone's character or behavior over time.

teach him

Suggests imparting knowledge or skills, but can also imply shaping beliefs.

train him

Focuses on developing specific skills or habits through instruction.

FAQs

How is "indoctrinate him" used in a sentence?

The phrase "indoctrinate him" is used to describe the process of instilling someone with specific beliefs, often in a systematic or forceful manner. For example, "They tried to indoctrinate him with their political ideology."

What can I say instead of "indoctrinate him"?

You can use alternatives like "influence him", "persuade him", or "teach him", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "indoctrinate him" and "educate him"?

"Indoctrinate him" implies instilling beliefs without critical examination, while "educate him" suggests providing a broad range of knowledge and encouraging independent thinking. The former has a negative connotation, while the latter is generally positive.

Is "indoctrinate him" always negative?

Yes, "indoctrinate him" typically carries a negative connotation because it suggests imposing beliefs rather than fostering open-mindedness. Using phrases like "guide him" or "mentor him" can be more neutral depending on the context.