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
Everyone will be entrenched in their own point of view and their own ideas.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 15 May 2026
Higher regulation tends to entrench incumbents.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Hospital is an oasis Inside the sprawling slum, where gang violence has left scores of children orphaned, rapes of women and girls are frequent and cholera, hunger and malnutrition remain entrenched, La Fontaine is widely seen as both an oasis and a lifeline.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Kon Knueppel, who finished second to fellow Duke product Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks in the race for the NBA’s 2025-26 rookie of the year, is already entrenched.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for entrench
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Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 15 May 2026
Higher regulation tends to entrench incumbents.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Hospital is an oasis Inside the sprawling slum, where gang violence has left scores of children orphaned, rapes of women and girls are frequent and cholera, hunger and malnutrition remain entrenched, La Fontaine is widely seen as both an oasis and a lifeline.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Kon Knueppel, who finished second to fellow Duke product Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks in the race for the NBA’s 2025-26 rookie of the year, is already entrenched.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for entrench
Cite this Entry
“Entrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/entrench. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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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