Meaning & use

entrench

verb·Advanced

To establish something so firmly that it becomes very difficult to change or remove.

See it in a sentence

Years of unchallenged power helped entrench corruption throughout the local government.

The soldiers worked through the night to entrench their position along the ridge.

A note on using this word

Entrench is often used in the passive as 'entrenched', describing deeply fixed habits, beliefs, or positions rather than physical objects.

Words with a similar meaning

embedestablish firmly

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

dislodgeuproot

Make it your own

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