Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Firmly established and difficult to change: Refers to something, such as a belief, attitude, institution, or power, that is so strongly established that changing it is very hard.
   • Securely dug in; fortified: In a military context, refers to troops or positions that are protected by trenches or other defensive earthworks.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective:
  • The company faced challenges due to its entrenched bureaucracy. (The company's bureaucracy was so firmly established it was hard to reform.)
  • The soldiers were entrenched on the hill, ready for the assault. (The soldiers were securely dug into defensive positions on the hill.)
  • Overcoming entrenched social prejudices requires persistent effort. (Social prejudices that are deeply rooted are difficult to overcome.)

Advanced Usage

• "to become entrenched": to become firmly established over time.
  • The habit had become so entrenched that he didn't even notice it anymore.
• "deeply entrenched": an intensifier, meaning extremely firmly established.
  • The tradition was deeply entrenched in the culture of the region.

Variants and Related Words

• Entrench (verb): To establish something very firmly; to dig a trench for defense.
  • The new law could entrench existing inequalities.
• Entrenchment (noun): The process of becoming entrenched; a defensive earthwork.
  • The entrenchment of these ideas in the public mind took decades.

Synonyms

• Ingrained: (of a habit, belief, or attitude) firmly fixed or established; difficult to change.
• Deep-rooted / Deep-seated: firmly established because of existing for a long time.
• Inveterate: (of a habit, feeling, or belief) long-established and unlikely to change.
• Fortified: (military) strengthened with defensive works.

Antonyms

• Superficial: existing or occurring at or on the surface; not deep or permanent.
• Transient: lasting only for a short time; impermanent.
• Unestablished: not yet firmly set or accepted.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• "Entrenched clause": A provision in a constitution or basic law that is made very difficult to amend or abolish.
  • The bill of rights is often an entrenched clause in modern constitutions.
• "Entrenched position": A military position that has been fortified with trenches; used metaphorically to describe a rigid, unchangeable opinion.
  • He refused to negotiate, having taken an entrenched position on the issue.

Adjective

1. established firmly and securely
   • the entrenched power of the nobility
2. dug in