engrain, engrained

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en·​grain

less common spellings of ingrain, ingrained

transitive verb

: to work indelibly into the natural texture or mental or moral constitution

ingrain

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verb

in·​grain (ˌ)in-ˈgrān 

variants or less commonly engrain

ingrained also engrained; ingraining also engraining; ingrains also engrains

transitive verb

: to work indelibly into the natural texture or mental or moral constitution

ingrain

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adjective (1)

in·​grain ˈin-ˌgrān 

1

a

: made of fiber that is dyed before being spun into yarn

b

: made of yarn that is dyed before being woven or knitted

2

: thoroughly worked in : innate

ingrain

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noun

in·​grain ˈin-ˌgrān 

: innate quality or character

ingrained

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adjective

in·​grained ˈin-ˌgrānd  (ˌ)in-ˈgrānd 

variants or less commonly engrained

(ˌ)in-ˈgrānd 

1

: forming a part of the essence or inmost being : deep-seated

ingrained prejudice

2

: worked into the grain or fiber

ingrainedly

ˈin-ˌgrā-nəd-lē 

ˈin-ˌgrānd-lē, 

(ˌ)in-ˈgrā-nəd-lē 

-ˈgrānd-

adverb

or less commonly engrainedly

(ˌ)in-ˈgrā-nəd-lē 

-ˈgrānd-

Synonyms of engrain

Verb

• suffuse
• inculcate
• infuse
• inoculate
• imbue
• invest
• fill

Adjective (1)

• inherent
• intrinsic
• integral
• essential
• ingrained

Adjective

• inherent
• intrinsic
• integral
• essential

Choose the Right Synonym for engrain

infuse, suffuse, imbue, ingrain, inoculate, leaven mean to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout.

infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.

a room suffused with light

imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.

imbue students with intellectual curiosity

ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.

clung to ingrained habits

inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.

an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

a serious play leavened with comic moments

Examples of engrain in a Sentence

Verb

the journalism professor has long ingrained his students with a deep respect for their chosen profession

the third-world privation he had witnessed forever ingrained itself upon the young doctor's memory

Adjective (1)

an ingrain skepticism that saves him from falling for every hoax that comes along

Adjective

These attitudes are very deeply ingrained in the culture.

her deeply ingrained distrust of all authority

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Spain’s possession-dominance is deeply ingrained in their nation’s football culture. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 18 July 2026

The idea that periods are supposed to be painful is deeply ingrained. — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 14 July 2026

Noun

Despite the movie’s immediate and enduring success, Adams notes that radio still serves a key role in helping ingrain hits in the pop consciousness. — Gary Trust, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025

Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb trusts Burns to attack practice head-on to teach, develop and ingrain defensive principles when players arrive at University Park. — Benjamin Royer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025

Adjective

Often nestled in lush mountains or on a peaceful lake, the bucolic and nature-filled settings of sleep-away camps will always remain ingrained in our memories. — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 16 July 2026

While new tools like the NWS HeatRisk scale aim to improve public awareness, overcoming ingrained complacency remains a significant challenge. — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1641, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (1)

1766, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for engrain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign