ingrained

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 ingrained

• inherent
• intrinsic
• integral
• essential

Examples of ingrained in a Sentence

These attitudes are very deeply ingrained in the culture.

her deeply ingrained distrust of all authority

Recent Examples on the Web

By the 1960s, the Royal was so ingrained in the city’s culture that when Major League Baseball’s office of the commissioner granted Kansas City a new baseball team, Kansas Citians chose to name it the Royals. —Patrick Salland, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2025

This was all deeply ingrained in Argentinian culture. —Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 31 Oct. 2025

Here is where composers have the most room to play, using subtle auditory cues that are biologically ingrained to keep listeners on edge. —Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2025

The idea that nuclear weapons have long attracted the interest of extraterrestrials is strongly ingrained within UFO mythology. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for ingrained

• appertained
• ascertained
• entertained
• overstrained
• preordained
• unconstrained
• unexplained
• unrestrained
• abstained
• arraigned
• attained
• bloodstained

Kids Definition

ingrained

adjective

in·​grained ˈin-ˌgrānd  (ˈ)in-ˈgrānd 

1

: worked into the grain or fiber

2

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

ingrained attitudes