1
: grown in
specifically
: having the free tip or edge embedded in the flesh
an ingrown toenail
2
: having the direction of growth or activity or interest inward rather than outward
… swarms of ingrown, infighting bureaucracies …—
H. R. Cilley
H. R. CilleyExamples of ingrown in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
From removing splinters or opening bandages, to snagging ingrown hairs and tightening eyeglass screws, tweezers are one of those travel essentials that my mom never regrets packing.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2026
Clip straight across your nail Instead of cutting your nails in an oval shape, cut them straight across to avoid an ingrown nail, which is when the nail curves and grows into your skin.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 21 Feb. 2026
Additionally, Jenkins notes that ingrown hairs and experiencing coarser hair growth can become a factor.
—Tatayana Yomary, Essence, 7 Jan. 2026
Are ingrown-hair extraction videos on Facebook a TV show?
—Morgan Bassichis, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ingrown
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Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2026
Clip straight across your nail Instead of cutting your nails in an oval shape, cut them straight across to avoid an ingrown nail, which is when the nail curves and grows into your skin.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 21 Feb. 2026
Additionally, Jenkins notes that ingrown hairs and experiencing coarser hair growth can become a factor.
—Tatayana Yomary, Essence, 7 Jan. 2026
Are ingrown-hair extraction videos on Facebook a TV show?
—Morgan Bassichis, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ingrown
Cite this Entry
“Ingrown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ingrown. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ingrown
adjective
in·grown
ˈin-ˌgrōn 
: grown in
especially
: having the free tip or edge grown back into the flesh
an ingrown toenail
Medical Definition
ingrown
adjective
in·grown
ˈin-ˌgrōn
: grown in
specifically
: having the normally free tip or edge embedded in the flesh
an ingrown toenail
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