# ingrained

**Pronunciation:** /ɪnˈɡreɪnd/ · in-GRAYND

**Part of speech:** adjective

## Meaning

Deeply fixed within a person's mind, character, or a system, making it very difficult to change.

## Examples

- The ingrained prejudice against outsiders took generations to dismantle.
- She had an ingrained habit of checking her phone every few minutes.
- Cultural values are often so ingrained that we do not even notice them.

## Synonyms

- deep — General term for something that goes far down or inward.
- fixed — Suggests something that is set and cannot be moved or altered.
- entrenched — Stronger, implying something is firmly established and resistant to challenge.
- inveterate — Specifically used for long-standing habits or feelings that are unlikely to change.

## Antonyms

- superficial — Existing only on the surface; not deep or permanent.
- fleeting — Lasting for a very short time; the opposite of a permanent, ingrained state.

## Common patterns

- ingrained in — fixed within a specific place or person — These beliefs are deeply ingrained in our society.

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