entrench — to establish something so firmly that change becomes very difficult or impossible
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to establish something so firmly that change becomes very difficult or impossible
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪnˈtrentʃ/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother's habit of hoarding plastic bags is so entrenched that even Marie Kondo would surrender.
- Gender stereotypes remain entrenched in many workplaces despite decades of progress.
- His love for pizza became so entrenched that he opened three pizzerias and married a chef.
entrench
VERB[/ɪnˈtrentʃ/]
to establish something so firmly that change becomes very difficult or impossible
to establish something so firmly that change becomes very difficult or impossible
Entrenched on his bench, no wrench can make him budge!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word originated in 16th-century French, combining the prefix en- (meaning 'into' or 'in') with trench, derived from Old French trenche meaning 'cut' or 'ditch'. Originally used in military contexts to describe the act of digging fortifications, the term later evolved metaphorically to mean 'establish firmly' or 'settle deeply'.
Breakdown
en- (into, in) + trench (from Old French trenche, meaning ditch or furrow). The prefix en- causative sense combines with trench to literally mean 'to cut into' or 'to dig a ditch', which extended to figurative meanings of establishing something deeply.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother's habit of hoarding plastic bags is so entrenched that even Marie Kondo would surrender.”
“Gender stereotypes remain entrenched in many workplaces despite decades of progress.”
“His love for pizza became so entrenched that he opened three pizzerias and married a chef.”
“The corruption was so deeply entrenched in the system that reform seemed impossible.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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