ingrained

[ in-greynd, in-greynd ]

adjective

1. firmly fixed; deep-rooted; inveterate:

   ingrained superstition.

2. wrought into or through the grain or fiber.

ingrained

/ ɪnˈɡreɪnd; ɪnˈɡreɪnɪdlɪ /

adjective

1. deeply impressed or instilled

   his fears are deeply ingrained

2. prenominal complete or inveterate; utter

   an ingrained fool

3. (esp of dirt) worked into or through the fibre, grain, pores, etc

Derived Forms

• ingrainedly, adverb
• inˈgrainedness, noun

Other Word Forms

• in·grain·ed·ly [in-, grey, -nid-lee, -, greynd, -], adverb
• in·grained·ness noun
• unin·grained adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ingrained¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; ingrain + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Research demonstrating the negative health impacts of messing too much with our bodies' ingrained expectations about light and darkness has accumulated over decades.

From Salon

Perhaps the French gatekeepers had in mind their own storied history of obsessives-turned-filmmakers like François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard and took a shine to the deeply ingrained movie-ness of it all.

From Los Angeles Times

I was very privileged as well to have that ingrained into me very young.

From Los Angeles Times

That tells you just how ingrained Trump is in the American psyche and how hard it is to take the microphone from his gnarled little hands.

From Salon

It’s so ingrained in the public psyche — everyone is always talking about “I’m going down the rabbit hole” or “red pill, blue pill.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deep-seated
• fixed
• implanted
• inbred
• inherent
• innate
• intrinsic
• rooted