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entrenched in

entrenched in

11 6.9
Deeply fixed in a person or group and hard to change
  • idiom
translation icon : arraigado en
  • The old traditions were deeply entrenched in the culture, making it difficult for new ideas to be accepted.
  • firmly entrenched in
  • deeply entrenched in
  • remain entrenched in

I think in this country, we tend to get entrenched in a position.

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Examples

  • Corruption was entrenched in the political system, hindering any efforts for reform.

  • If the Brotherhood has its way, social and cultural values inimical to democracy will become more entrenched in Egypt.

    Academic text (2012)
  • And so this was a guy who really was entrenched in that system in the family.

  • I think in this country, we tend to get entrenched in a position.

  • The United States and its European allies are already deeply entrenched in Africa.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Taiwan also appears to be well entrenched in Central America.

    Academic text (1998)
  • As these women became more entrenched in Indian education, they realized the contributions they could make as leaders.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The business elite continues to be firmly entrenched in the government of Hong Kong.

    Academic text (1998)
  • A University of Chicago study indicates that segregation is more entrenched in American cities today than ever imagined.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Hamas is deeply entrenched in Palestinian society and draws considerable support from the Palestinian public.

    Academic text (2015)

Synonyms

to rooted in
vsentrenched in
67 3.9

To come from something earlier and be strongly connected to it

does not always imply origin and can mean firm placement alone
deep-seated
vsentrenched in
24 4.7

A feeling or belief that people cannot easily change

is used for being set inside a structure rather than inner personal core
ingrained in
vsentrenched in
15 5.5

Firmly fixed in a person or group and hard to change

is more general, applying across different things or settings
deep-rooted
vsentrenched in
8 4.8

A feeling, belief or tradition that is very strong and hard to change

is broader, covering many kinds of long-standing ideas beyond traditions
ingrained
vsentrenched in
6 6.4

Firmly fixed in a person, especially a habit or belief, so it is hard to change

refers more to being set inside a context rather than inner personal depth
entrenched
vsentrenched in
6 6.7

Strongly fixed and hard to change, often about beliefs or habits

is the phrase form that highlights being set inside a particular place or system
rooted
vsentrenched in
3 3.7

Firmly connected to a particular place, idea, or feeling

is used when something is set inside another thing rather than just connected
bred in the bone
vsentrenched in
  • Informal
1 8.8

A quality someone has from birth that is hard to change

is about firm establishment in a context rather than an inborn, natural trait
planted
vsentrenched in
5.5

Deeply fixed ideas or feelings that are hard to change

stresses placement inside surroundings rather than general presence
implanted
vsentrenched in
5.8

Firmly fixed in a person's mind or character

is more general and applies to firm setting in objects or systems too
embedded
vsentrenched in
4.4

Held firmly inside something or made a normal part of a group

emphasizes being an essential inner part rather than just hard to remove
confirmed
vsentrenched in
4.2

Having a habit or belief that is unlikely to change

focuses on being fixed within a system rather than a personal lifelong trait
brassbound
vsentrenched in
9.9

Very strict about rules or ways and unlikely to change

speaks to being set inside something rather than extreme inflexible strictness

Antonyms

23 3.4

Able to change to fit new situations

How Embedded

entrenched in
11 6.9
to rooted in
67 3.9
present
392 1.0

Surface Forms

entrenched in positive

Morphology

entrenched + in

The adjective 'entrenched' already encodes 'firmly established; difficult to alter' and the preposition 'in' simply locates that state within a domain (e.g. culture), so the combined meaning is directly derivable from the parts. This is a regular adjective + preposition composition common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should understand the MWE.

Etymology

The phrase entrenched in may come from the image of a trench: imagine something dug deep into the ground so it cannot be moved. So when an idea is entrenched in a person or a place, it means 'firmly established' and hard to change.