Words / C1

in-GRAYND/ɪnˈɡreɪnd/

Ingrained means firmly fixed and difficult to change, of a habit, attitude, or dirt: an ingrained habit, ingrained prejudice. Habit (already in the dictionary) is the everyday noun; habitual (already in the dictionary) is the cousin. Rounding the n is still a methods fiction.

Meaning

Firmly fixed and difficult to change, of a habit, attitude, or dirt.

Examples

• “An ingrained habit of rounding the n is still a methods fiction.”
• “Deep-rooted is the close twin. Habitual is already in this course. A habit is talk. A rounding rule is a codebook. Write the rule; do not round in the abstract.”

Good to know

Deeply fixed and hard to change. Close: deep-rooted. A habit ≠ a codebook rule.

Near in meaning

deep-rooted, entrenched, habitual

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