Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cause someone to forget or discard previously learned knowledge, habits, or methods: The primary meaning of "unteach" is the deliberate act of making someone unlearn something.
   • To cause someone to disbelieve a previously held idea; to teach the opposite of what was learned earlier: This meaning emphasizes replacing an old belief with a new, contradictory one.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • It is very difficult to unteach bad pronunciation habits acquired in childhood.
  • The new coach had to unteach the team the defensive strategies of the previous regime.
  • Her goal was not just to inform but to unteach the prejudices they had absorbed from their community.

Advanced Usage

• "To unlearn" vs. "To unteach": While "unlearn" focuses on the learner's internal process of discarding knowledge, "unteach" focuses on the external, active effort of a teacher or influence to cause that unlearning.
  • The therapist helped him unlearn his fear. / The therapist worked to unteach his fearful responses.
• Often used in contexts of reform, rehabilitation, or correcting misinformation.
  • The documentary aimed to unteach the historical inaccuracies taught in some textbooks.

Variants and Related Words

• Unlearn (verb): To discard knowledge or habits from one's memory.
  • He had to unlearn everything he knew about driving when he moved to the other side of the road.
• Re-teach (verb): To teach again, often after unteaching.
  • After unteaching the incorrect method, she began to re-teach the proper technique.

Synonyms

• Eradicate (a belief/habit): To remove or destroy completely.
• Extinguish (a behavior): To put an end to; to quench.
• Disabuse: To persuade someone that an idea or belief is mistaken (often used with "of").

Antonyms

• Teach: To impart knowledge or skill.
• Instill: To gradually but firmly establish an idea or habit.
• Ingrain: To fix a habit or belief so deeply it is difficult to change.

Verb

1. cause to unlearn
   • teach somebody to unlearn old habits or methods
2. cause to disbelieve; teach someone the contrary of what he or she had learned earlier