ingrained
/'in'greind/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Deeply established and difficult to change: Describes something, especially a habit, belief, or feeling, that is so firmly fixed it seems to be a permanent part of a person or thing.
- Thoroughly worked into the substance: Describes something, like dirt or a stain, that is deeply embedded and not easily removed.
Usage
- The adjective ingrained is used to describe qualities, habits, or attitudes that are deeply rooted in a person's character or nature.
- It can also describe physical substances that are deeply embedded in a material.
- It is often used with nouns like , , , , , , or .
- Common collocations include , , and .
Examples
- Describing a habit or attitude:
- His ingrained politeness made him hold the door for everyone.
- She had an ingrained distrust of authority figures.
- Describing something physically embedded:
- The ingrained dirt on the old floorboards required strong cleaner.
- Used with 'in':
- A sense of duty was ingrained in him from childhood.
- These prejudices are deeply ingrained in the culture.
Advanced Usage
- "to be ingrained in someone/something": To be a deep and permanent part of a person's character or a system.
- The value of hard work is ingrained in the company's ethos.
- "to become ingrained": To become established as a deep-seated habit or pattern over time.
- After years of practice, the movements became ingrained in his muscle memory.
Variants and Related Words
- Ingrain (verb): To fix something deeply or permanently. (Less common than the adjective).
- They sought to ingrain these principles in the new recruits.
- Engrained: A common alternative spelling of . Both are acceptable.
Synonyms
- Deep-rooted: Firmly established and difficult to remove.
- Deep-seated: Strongly established at a deep level.
- Inherent: Existing as a permanent and inseparable part.
- Inbred: Existing from birth; innate.
- Inveterate: Long-established and unlikely to change (often for habits).
Antonyms
- Superficial: On the surface; not deep or permanent.
- Extrinsic: Not part of the essential nature; coming from outside.
- Acquired: Gained through experience, not innate.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "Ingrained habit": A habit that is automatic and very difficult to break.
- Biting his nails was an ingrained habit he couldn't shake.
- "Ingrained pattern": A deeply established way of behaving or thinking.
- The team fell back into their ingrained patterns of communication.
Adjective
- (used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
- deep-rooted prejudice
- deep-seated differences of opinion
- implanted convictions
- ingrained habits of a lifetime
- a deeply planted need