Definition

1. 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

1. (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