What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
engrained
Example
His fear of spiders was so engrained that he couldn't even look at a picture of one. [engrained: adjective]
Example
She had engrained the importance of punctuality in her children from a young age. [engrained: verb]
ingrained
Example
His love for music was ingrained in him from a young age, as his parents were both musicians. [ingrained: adjective]
Example
The company culture of hard work and dedication had become ingrained in all of the employees. [ingrained: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ingrained is more commonly used than engrained in everyday language, especially in American English.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between engrained and ingrained?
Both engrained and ingrained are relatively formal words, but they can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
