Entrenched: meaning, definitions and examples

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entrenched

 

[ ɪnˈtren(t)ʃt ]

Adjective / Verb
Context #1 | Adjective

in politics

Firmly established and difficult or unlikely to change, especially with regard to an attitude or belief.

Synonyms

deep-rooted, established, fixed, ingrained, unchanging

Examples of usage

  • The party's entrenched leadership refused to consider any changes to their policies.
  • Despite growing public opposition, the entrenched government officials remained in power.
  • Her entrenched views on the subject made it difficult to have a constructive conversation.
  • The company's entrenched practices hindered innovation and progress.
  • Breaking free from the entrenched mindset was a challenge for the team.
Context #2 | Verb

in warfare

To establish an attitude, habit, or belief so firmly that change is very difficult.

Synonyms

embed, establish, fortify, root, secure

Examples of usage

  • The soldiers entrenched themselves behind the barricades.
  • The general ordered the troops to entrench their position.
  • It is important to entrench good behavior from a young age.
  • The negative experiences had entrenched a fear of failure in her mind.
  • The company's success was entrenched in its commitment to quality.

Translations

Translations of the word "entrenched" in other languages:

🇵🇹 arraigado

🇮🇳 जड़ जमाए हुए

🇩🇪 eingebettet

🇮🇩 berakar kuat

🇺🇦 вкорінений

🇵🇱 zakorzeniony

🇯🇵 根付いた

🇫🇷 enraciné

🇪🇸 arraigado

🇹🇷 kökleşmiş

🇰🇷 뿌리깊은

🇸🇦 متجذر

🇨🇿 zažraný

🇸🇰 zakorenený

🇨🇳 根深蒂固的

🇸🇮 zakoreninjen

🇮🇸 rótgróinn

🇰🇿 тамыр жайған

🇬🇪 მაგრად ფესვგადგმული

🇦🇿 kök salmış

🇲🇽 arraigado

Word origin

The word 'entrenched' originated from the military term 'entrench', which dates back to the late 18th century. It originally referred to soldiers digging trenches for defense in warfare. Over time, the term evolved to also describe firmly established beliefs or attitudes that are difficult to change. The prefix 'en-' signifies 'to put into' or 'to make', while 'trench' refers to a long, narrow ditch. Thus, 'entrenched' metaphorically conveys the idea of something deeply rooted or firmly established.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,498, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.