entrench

English · Thesaurus

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entrench

/ɪnˈtɹɛnt͡ʃ/ Canada, US, UK
/ɛnˈtɹɛnt͡ʃ/ Canada, US, UK
/ɪnˈtɹɪnt͡ʃ/ US, pin pen merger
/ɪnˈtɹent͡ʃ/ Australia
/ənˈtɹent͡ʃ/ New Zealand

Rhymes with -ɛntʃ

Where it comes from

From en- + trench. First attested in the 1550s.

verb entrenches · entrenching · entrenched · intrench

ambitransitive, literally To cut in; to furrow; to make trenches in or upon. It was this very sword entrenched it.
ambitransitive, literally To dig or excavate a trench; to trench.
Similar: trench
ambitransitive, literally To surround or provide with a trench, especially for defense; to dig in. The army entrenched its camp, or entrenched itself.
Similar: dig in
ambitransitive, figuratively To become completely absorbed in and fully accept one's beliefs, even in the face of evidence against it and refusing to be reasoned with.
ambitransitive, figuratively To establish a substantial position in business, politics, etc. Senator Cornpone was able to entrench by spending millions on each campaign.
Similar: consolidate
ambitransitive, figuratively To invade; to encroach; to infringe or trespass; to enter on, and take possession of, that which belongs to another; usually followed by on or upon.

Translations

Every language

verb dig

Deutsch	graben, ausheben
Italiano	scavare, sterrare

verb surround with a trench

Español	atrincherar
中文	挖掘壕沟
Português	entrincheirar
Français	retrancher
Deutsch	eingraben, verschanzen, mit einen Graben umgeben
Italiano	trincerare, fortificare
Русский	окапывать okapyvatʹ, окапываться okapyvatʹsja

verb establish financial position

Español	atrincherar
中文	巩固 gǒnggù
Deutsch	Fuß fassen, etablieren, festigen
Italiano	rafforzare, consolidare, cementare, potenziare, rinforzare

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MLA

"entrench." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/entrench. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

entrench. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/entrench

Chicago

"entrench." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/entrench.

BibTeX

@misc{entrench_2026,
  title = {entrench},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/entrench},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}