entrench
verb
en·trench
in-ˈtrench 
en-
variants
or less commonly intrench
entrenched also intrenched; entrenching also intrenching; entrenches also intrenches
1
a
: to place within or surround with a trench especially for defense
… Allied troops entrenched themselves on the Normandy beach …—
Andrea Stone
Andrea Stone
b
: to place (oneself) in a strong defensive position
… a ruling clique's desire to … entrench itself against shifts in public opinion.—Henry Olsen
Henry Olsen
c
: to establish solidly
entrenched themselves in the business
… social reforms which the government is trying to entrench.—Michelle Grattan
Michelle Grattan2
: to cut into : furrow
specifically
: to erode downward so as to form a trench
1
: to dig or occupy a trench for defensive purposes
2
: to enter upon or take over something unfairly, improperly, or unlawfully : encroach
—used with on or upon
entrench upon a person's rights
Synonyms of entrench
Examples of entrench in a Sentence
officials who have tried to entrench themselves in office
a father who entrenched in our minds the belief that hard work pays off
Recent Examples on the Web
Now the junta that ousted her seeks to hold sham polls in December to entrench and legitimize their rule.
—Kim Aris, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
On the hardware side over 10+ million devices have been built around a recovery phrase by default, entrenching a market expectation in which seed phrases are the go-to recovery method, even as some vendors add alternatives.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Meredith Whittaker, currently the president of the Signal Foundation, has criticized the political economy of the tech industry, where AI is used by powerful actors in ways that can entrench marginalization.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
The problems at Starbucks, however, have proven more pervasive and more entrenched.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for entrench
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Kim Aris, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
On the hardware side over 10+ million devices have been built around a recovery phrase by default, entrenching a market expectation in which seed phrases are the go-to recovery method, even as some vendors add alternatives.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Meredith Whittaker, currently the president of the Signal Foundation, has criticized the political economy of the tech industry, where AI is used by powerful actors in ways that can entrench marginalization.
—Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
The problems at Starbucks, however, have proven more pervasive and more entrenched.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for entrench
Cite this Entry
“Entrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entrench. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
entrench
verb
en·trench
in-ˈtrench
1
a
: to dig, place within, surround with, or occupy a trench especially for defense
b
: to establish solidly
2
: encroach sense 1
—used with on or upon
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