Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense entrenches, present participle entrenching, past tense, past participle entrenched
verb
If something such as power, a custom, or an idea is entrenched, it is firmly established, so that it would be difficult to change it.
...a series of measures designed to entrench democracy and the rule of law. [VERB noun]
These dictators have entrenched themselves politically and are difficult to move. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
entrenchedadjective
The recession remains deeply entrenched.
Synonyms: fixed, set, firm, rooted More Synonyms of entrench
More Synonyms of entrench
entrench in British English
or intrench (ɪnˈtrɛntʃ)
verb
1. (transitive)
to construct (a defensive position) by digging trenches around it
2. (transitive)
to fix or establish firmly, esp so as to prevent removal or change
3. (intr; foll by on or upon)
to trespass or encroach; infringe
Derived forms
entrenched (enˈtrenched) or intrenched (inˈtrenched)
adjective
entrencher (enˈtrencher) or intrencher (inˈtrencher)
noun
entrench in American English
(ɛnˈtrɛntʃ; ɪnˈtrɛntʃ)
verb transitive
1.
to surround or fortify with a trench or trenches
2.
to establish securely
used in the passive voice or with a reflexive pronoun
an official entrenched in office
3.
to cut down into, as by erosion, so as to form a trough or trench
verb intransitive
4.
to encroach or infringe (on or upon)
Derived forms
entrenchment (enˈtrenchment)
noun
Word origin
en-1 + trench
Examples of 'entrench' in a sentence
entrench
In both cases the target of the insurrection has ended up more entrenched in power than before.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yet because it is so deeply entrenched in our thought and culture it is often ignored and dismissed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It does not need to be entrenched in law.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This time the factions are more entrenched in their positions.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It entrenched the position of trade unions.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Dozens of replays merely entrenched those positions rather than brought them closer.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The preference for equities remains firmly entrenched.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Mutual loathing is too deeply entrenched for vitriol to be aimed anywhere else than at one another.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Heavy sentencing fails to deter because of the deeply entrenched prejudices of a society in flux.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
These guys often have fear of humans so deeply entrenched that they present real problems if you want to make friends.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Our patterns of behaviour are so deeply entrenched that we are often not aware of them ourselves until we are challenged.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
That association is still firmly entrenched.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I generally get a proficient expert to set traps before the problem becomes too deeply entrenched.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Most of our masters had recently returned from wartime service and had entrenched ideas of obedience and personal discipline and their retribution was swift and painful.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This issue is all about human rights, and there is no right on earth so deeply entrenchedas the right to grumble.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Finally, it might be argued that power is so deeply entrenched that any attempt to introduce industrial democracy would be a sham.
Low, Nicholas Politics, Planning and the State (1990)
While drugs can make subjects more talkative, experts say that a subject with a firmly entrenched false story embedded in his mind can still lie.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
By the 1950s, independence and sovereignty were firmly entrenched.
Butt, Gerald A Rock and a Hard Place (1994)
Germany's banks in turn have deeply entrenched relationships with the Austrian financial system.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It must examine the incentives entrenched by laws, regulations and conventions that have made the City so influential.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Until you get both of those things firmly entrenched in your understanding of the Bible storyline, you will always come out with a diluted cross.
Christianity Today (2000)
In other languages
entrench
British English: entrench VERB
If something such as power, a custom, or an idea is entrenched, it is firmly established.
...a series of measures designed to entrench democracy and the rule of law.
American English: entrench
Brazilian Portuguese: entranhar
Chinese: 巩固
European Spanish: consolidar
French: enraciner
German: zementieren
Italian: consolidare
Japanese: 定着させる
Korean: 확고히 하다
European Portuguese: entranhar
Latin American Spanish: consolidar
1 (verb)
Definition
to fix or establish firmly
This policy is likely to entrench existing divisions.
Synonyms
fix
Fix the photo to the card using double-sided tape
set
a gate set in a high wall
establish
He has established himself as a pivotal figure in US politics.
plant
Sir Eric had evidently planted the idea in her mind.
seat
He waved towards a chair, and seated himself at the desk.
settle
Right, that's settled then.
root
install
Before your spouse's death, why had you installed yourself in a modern villa?
lodge
anchor
The driver's seatbelt was not properly anchored in the car.
implant
Doctors implanted an artificial heart into the 46-year-old man.
embed
The fossils are embedded in hard sandstone.
dig in
ensconce
They ensconced themselves on the couch.
ingrain
2 (verb)
Definition
to fortify (a position) by digging trenches around it
Synonyms
fortify
dig in
dig trenches
construct defences
3 (verb)
Synonyms
encroach
He doesn't like people to encroach on his territory.
intrude
He kept intruding with personal questions.
trespass
They were trespassing on private property.
infringe
impinge
make inroads
interlope
Additional synonyms
in the sense of anchor
The driver's seatbelt was not properly anchored in the car.