ingrained
Americanadjective
-
firmly fixed; deep-rooted; inveterate.
ingrained superstition.
-
wrought into or through the grain or fiber.
adjective
-
deeply impressed or instilled
his fears are deeply ingrained
-
(prenominal) complete or inveterate; utter
an ingrained fool
-
(esp of dirt) worked into or through the fibre, grain, pores, etc
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ingrained
Explanation
Use the adjective ingrained to describe the strong beliefs of someone who has thought that way for a very long time, such as the ingrained patriotism of a 20-year military veteran. Ingrained comes from the word grain, which in late Middle English referred to a certain kind of dye. This type of dye was indelible — unable to be removed — much like ingrained beliefs that are so firmly fixed that they'll never change.
Vocabulary lists containing ingrained
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Bless Me, Ultima
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ingrained in police training is that every traffic stop has the potential to wind up becoming an ambush, and so police have been trained to be hyper-vigilant.
From Washington Post • Nov. 15, 2021
Ingrained in Oberlander’s work, large and small, was the idea that everyone should have access to gardens and green spaces that nurture emotional well-being.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 5, 2021
Ingrained with a wanderlust that I try to foist on my children, I probably see more of California than most.
From New York Times • Nov. 19, 2018
Ingrained poverty and the poor state of education have failed to help those at the bottom end of the ladder.
From The Guardian • Jul. 2, 2018
Ingrained soldierly cleanliness of the men was displayed.
From "Contemptible", by "Casualty" by
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
