instill doubt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'instill doubt' is a perfectly usable and correct phrase in written English.
It can be used to indicate an attempt to cause someone to feel hesitation or uncertainty about something. For example: "The negative campaign ads were designed to instill doubt in the minds of voters about the other candidate's credibility."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Two major flaws instill doubt about the legitimacy of the request to extradite Mr. Polanski.

The New York Times

The Chamber has long tried to instill doubt about climate change.

The Washington Post

On Monday night in Wisconsin, Trump's teleprompter offered him some new metrics in his efforts to instill doubt in the entire process.

The Washington Post

Mr. Melancon knew the scandal was not by itself enough to win on, but his campaign included it as part of a broader effort to instill doubt about Mr. Vitter, particularly among women.

The New York Times

"If you can learn something about whatever is on those hard drives, whatever that information might be, you could instill doubt on their part by just countermessaging whatever it is they said they wanted to do or planned to do," said Brig.

The New York Times

Like defense lawyers trying to instill doubt in the minds of jurors, creationist critics tend to avoid the difficult and meticulous analysis required in interpreting paleontological data.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Defense lawyers dismissed parts of the government's account and tried to instill doubts in the jury about the reliability of coming witnesses.

The New York Times

But it also includes network-disrupting tactics to deter the terror enablers who would not want to sacrifice their own lives to jihad, and computer and cellphone hacking to instill doubts among terrorists and their supporters about one another.

The New York Times

But at a time when the New York art world is distinguished chiefly by hard sell and soft art, he and some of his colleagues are at least continuing to ask questions, instill doubts, raise a usefully confusing stink.

The New York Times

Rather than offering an explanation of this kind, Malebranche is content here simply to report on his own psychological response to the 'extravagant supposition' of a deceiving God, which fails to instill doubts in him about such simple truths.

SEP

Well, ok, the stuff she tried to do to trick Emily or instill doubts in her marriage to Les was devious.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "instill doubt", ensure the context clearly identifies the source and target of the doubt. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "instill doubt" to create tension in your writing. Vary your language with synonyms like "raise questions" or "sow seeds of skepticism" for a richer narrative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "instill doubt" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "instill" acts as a transitive verb requiring a direct object ("doubt"). As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes the action of causing someone to feel uncertain.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "instill doubt" is a commonly used and grammatically correct expression that describes the act of causing someone to feel uncertainty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it fits well in various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources. While frequently used, varying your language with alternatives like "raise questions" or "plant seeds of doubt" can enrich your writing. When using "instill doubt", ensure the context is clear and that the source and target of the doubt are well-defined.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plant seeds of doubt

Emphasizes the gradual introduction of doubt.

sow seeds of skepticism

Highlights the active spreading of disbelief.

raise questions

Focuses on prompting uncertainty without necessarily creating complete disbelief.

foster disbelief

Implies nurturing an existing sense of disbelief.

create uncertainty

Indicates the establishment of a state of being unsure.

spark skepticism

Suggests an abrupt and immediate effect to disbelief.

generate suspicion

Focuses on creating distrust or mistrust.

prompt questioning

Highlights the elicitation of inquiry and investigation.

cast aspersions

Involves making disparaging remarks to undermine confidence.

undermine confidence

Focuses on weakening someone's certainty or belief.

FAQs

How can I use "instill doubt" in a sentence?

You can use "instill doubt" to describe an action that causes someone to question something. For example, "The lawyer's questioning was intended to instill doubt in the jury's minds."

What are some alternatives to "instill doubt"?

Alternatives include "plant seeds of doubt", "raise questions", or "sow seeds of skepticism", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "instill doubt" or "create doubt"?

"Instill doubt" implies a deliberate effort to introduce doubt, while "create doubt" simply indicates the emergence of doubt. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the intention behind the action.

What's the difference between "instill doubt" and "inspire confidence"?

"Instill doubt" means to cause someone to feel uncertain, while "inspire confidence" means to cause someone to feel certain and secure. They are antonyms.