entrench

verb

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en·trench | \ in-ˈtrench

, en- \

variants: or less commonly intrench \ in-ˈtrench

entrenched also intrenched; entrenching also intrenching; entrenches also intrenches

Definition of entrench

transitive verb

1a : to place within or surround with a trench especially for defense

b : to place (oneself) in a strong defensive position

c : to establish solidly entrenched themselves in the business

2 : to cut into : furrow specifically : to erode downward so as to form a trench

intransitive verb

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

Other Words from entrench Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about entrench

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Synonyms & Antonyms for entrench

Synonyms

bed,
embed
(also imbed),
enroot,
fix,
impact,
implant,
ingrain
(also engrain),
lodge,
root

Antonyms

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 The bill would further entrench among large buy-side investors the perception that the industry is getting interesting. — WSJ, "Health Care Roundup: Market Talk," 25 Mar. 2021 No longer are we supposed to see past race, for we are instructed to entrench ourselves further in it. — Tristan Yang, National Review, "Columbia University’s Ultra-Woke Idea: Segregated Graduation Ceremonies," 23 Mar. 2021 The NOLA Gold Foundation, established to entrench the club in the community through various outreach programs, has kept dozens of at-risk youth in positive activities throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. — Christopher Dodson, Forbes, "NOLA Gold Moving Into New Stadium For 2021 Major League Rugby Season," 19 Mar. 2021 The alternative — to leave poorer countries behind — would only entrench abject inequality. — Kristalina Georgieva For Cnn Business Perspectives, CNN, "The global economy won't recover if we don't get vaccines to developing countries, too," 7 Mar. 2021 The common thread in all three lawsuits is the accusation that Google has engaged in anti-competitive conduct designed to entrench its monopoly position, instead of purely trying to win on the merits. — Gilad Edelman, Wired, "Google’s Antitrust Cases: A Guide for the Perplexed," 18 Dec. 2020 Some voices in China, however, are wary that China’s new hubris may underestimate the U.S.’s strength and work to entrench anti-China attitudes abroad. — Naomi Xu Elegant, Fortune, "Joe Biden underestimated China’s ability to innovate before. He shouldn’t repeat that mistake," 17 Dec. 2020 In other words, the bill would entrench last year’s emergency experiment, further turning Election Day into Election Quarter. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Making Every Election Like 2020," 1 Mar. 2021 The purchase of the U.S. biopharma outfit — the largest deal for AstraZeneca since it was founded in a 1999 combination of British and Swedish firms — would entrench the U.K. giant’s position among the world’s 10 biggest drugmakers. — Suzi Ring, Bloomberg.com, "Astra CEO Lands Mega-Deal, Defends Vaccine in Sydney Quarantine," 14 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'entrench.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.