Ungrained

The adjective 'ungrained' describes something that is not deeply embedded, ingrained, or firmly fixed. It suggests a lack of permeation, thoroughness, or permanence, often referring to habits, beliefs, or patterns of behavior that are not yet established or deeply rooted. It implies a state of being nascent, preliminary, or superficial, lacking the depth or influence of something fully integrated. The word can be applied to abstract concepts, like values, or concrete objects, such as imperfections or impurities, where the 'grain' of the subject is yet to fully be realized or absorbed, implying a level of transience or incompleteness. This lack of depth contrasts sharply with the pervasive influence implied by the term 'ingrained'.

Ungrained meaning with examples

• His newfound empathy was still relatively ungrained, manifesting more as a conscious effort than a natural inclination. He struggled to fully understand the perspectives of others, often reverting to his self-centered ways. With time, consistent practice, and a genuine desire for change, however, this shallow empathy had the potential to become more established and genuine in his character.
• The architect designed a model of a building with a facade that appeared pristine, but on closer inspection, the design's inherent flaw, a recurring structural weakness, was still ungrained into the overall blueprint. The flaw could still be addressed at the concept level, but once the building got underway the weaknesses would become increasingly difficult to resolve and ultimately more costly.
• The marketing campaign promoting the new product’s success was ungrained in the consumer’s mindset. Most of the target demographic remained unaware of the key advantages of this product. The product's effectiveness remained a point of discussion in the workplace, making the transition to consumer adoption less stable due to the lack of sustained consumer adoption.
• The team's defensive strategy was ungrained at the beginning of the season, resulting in frequent breakdowns in communication and poor coordination. As the season progressed, through constant practice and repetition, a sense of synergy developed among players, and the flaws in their system became better. They were able to improve their performance in later matches.