entrenched

American  

[en-trencht] / ɛnˈtrɛntʃt /

adjective

1. firmly or solidly established; placed in a position of strength.

   One of the most firmly entrenched ideas of masculinity is that men don't cry.

2. surrounded by trenches dug for defensive purposes.

   Government troops had finally been forced to abandon their entrenched positions, making them vulnerable to ground attack.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of entrench.

Other Word Forms

• unentrenched adjective

Etymology

Origin of entrenched

entrench ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

The leap was swift and steep—and grating on consumers already weary from years of entrenched inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

On Tuesday, the eSafety commissioner said the reform was "unwinding 20 years of entrenched social media practices".

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

“I was so entrenched in why women commit acts of crime,” Alloway said, adding that she was disappointed to find that revenge films on the subject still often revolved around men.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Now, they’re entrenched as the franchise quarterbacks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, respectively.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

Despite European guns, the Indians’ greater numbers, entrenched positions, knowledge of the terrain, and superb archery made them formidable adversaries.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• rooted