Instil Word Meaning Explained

The question requires identifying the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'instil' within the sentence: "The Professor has been able to instil confidence in her students". In this context, 'instil' refers to the process of gradually but firmly establishing an idea, feeling, or quality, such as confidence, in someone's mind.

Analyzing Option Meanings

To find the best match, let's look at the definitions of the provided options:

• Inculcate: To fix (an idea, habit, or principle) firmly in a person's mind; to teach systematically.
• Infer: To deduce or conclude (information) from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements.
• Eradicate: To destroy utterly; wipe out or abolish.
• Unlike: Different from; dissimilar to.

Selecting the Synonym for Instil

Now, let's compare these meanings to 'instil' as used in the sentence:

• The sentence describes a professor successfully building or imparting confidence in students.
• 'Inculcate' means to implant or teach an idea or quality, which aligns perfectly with the concept of imparting confidence.
• 'Infer' relates to concluding something, not teaching it.
• 'Eradicate' means to destroy, which is the opposite of imparting or instilling.
• 'Unlike' describes a difference and doesn't fit the context of teaching or imparting.

Based on this analysis, 'inculcate' is the word that most closely matches the meaning of 'instil' in the given sentence.