ingrained

adjective

variants or less commonly engrained
1
: forming a part of the essence or inmost being : deep-seated
ingrained prejudice
2
: worked into the grain or fiber
ingrainedly
ˈin-ˌgrā-nəd-lē How to pronounce ingrained (audio)
ˈin-ˌgrānd-lē
(ˌ)in-ˈgrā-nəd-lē How to pronounce ingrained (audio)
-ˈgrānd-
adverb
or less commonly engrainedly

Examples of ingrained in a Sentence

These attitudes are very deeply ingrained in the culture. her deeply ingrained distrust of all authority
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Yet 30,000 fans crammed in front of their secondary stage singing not just the ingrained hits, but deep album cuts as well. Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 22 May 2025 This impressive number shows how ingrained credit cards are in modern financial habits, indicating a strong connection between their popularity with consumers and their comfort in using them. Rick Watkin, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025 The legislation may also face an uphill battle in rural, lower-population states where driving—and driving fast—is deeply ingrained in daily life and culture. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 15 May 2025 At a large academic center, such as all the large cancer centers, clinical trials are deeply ingrained into patient care – and without clinical trials, advances in delivery of care to patients will not be made. Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ingrained

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of ingrained was in 1599

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Cite this Entry

“Ingrained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ingrained. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

ingrained

adjective
1
: worked into the grain or fiber
2
: forming a part of the inmost being : deep-seated
ingrained attitudes

More from Merriam-Webster on ingrained

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