Entrenched
/ɪnˈtrɛnʧt/
adjectiveC1past participle (used as adjective)
Definition
Entrenched describes something that is deeply established or fixed in place, making it hard to change. It is often used for beliefs, habits, or systems that have existed for a long time and resist change.
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⚡ See It in Action
Firmly established and difficult to change (ideas, habits, systems)
- •The belief in hard work is deeply entrenched in the culture.
- •Old traditions can become entrenched and hard to update.
- •Social inequalities are often entrenched and require strong efforts to fix.
(Less common) Literally dug in or fixed in a place, often used in military contexts
- •The soldiers were entrenched in their positions during the battle.
- •The camp was entrenched to protect against attacks.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "entrenched" like "stuck," but much stronger—something that is not just stuck but deeply held and hard to move.
- ✓Picture a tree with very deep roots in the ground that hold it firmly, so it cannot be easily pulled out.
- ✓It's the feeling when an old habit or idea feels impossible to change because it has been there for so long.
- ✓Sounds like "in-TRENCHED" → imagine a trench, a deep long hole in the ground that is hard to climb out of or change.
- ✓Think of a castle with a deep moat or trench around it, making it very hard for enemies to get in or change what is inside.
- ✓NOT like "new" or "temporary" — entrenched means long-lasting and fixed.
- ✓NOT like "easy to change" — entrenched means very difficult to change or remove.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Deep-rooted: meaning very firmly established (Use when emphasizing long history and strong foundation)
- •Established: meaning accepted and normal (Use when something is well known and accepted, but not necessarily hard to change)
- •Firm: meaning strong and steady (Use when describing strength but less about difficulty of change)
- •Fixed: meaning not moving or changing easily (Use for physical or abstract things that stay in place)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Prefix: "en-" (to cause to be in or on)
- •Root: "trench" (a long, narrow ditch or hole in the ground)
- •Suffix: "-ed" (past participle, describing a state)
- •Etymology: From the verb "entrench," meaning to dig a trench around something for protection, now used metaphorically for ideas or habits that are deeply fixed.
- •Historical development: Originally used for military defense (digging trenches), later used to describe strong, hard-to-change positions or ideas.
- •Modern usage: Mostly used metaphorically now for ideas, habits, or systems that are very hard to change or remove.
💭 Reflect & Connect
•What are some examples of entrenched habits or ideas in your culture or life?
•How can people or societies work to change entrenched problems or beliefs?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.The tradition became entrenched over many years, making it ___ to change despite new ideas.
2.When beliefs are entrenched, people often ___ to accept different opinions.
3.Unlike new habits, entrenched habits are ___ and difficult to break.
4.The company’s old rules are so entrenched that employees find it hard to ___ them.
5.Entrenched attitudes can ___ social progress if not challenged.
6.The soldiers were entrenched ___ the hill, prepared for a long defense.
7.Because the problem is entrenched, it will require ___ efforts to solve it.