encroach

as in to invade
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits each year the sea continues to encroach upon the island's beaches

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb encroach differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of encroach are infringe, invade, and trespass. While all these words mean "to make inroads upon the property, territory, or rights of another," encroach suggests gradual or stealthy entrance upon another's territory or usurpation of another's rights or possessions.

the encroaching settlers displacing the native peoples

Where would infringe be a reasonable alternative to encroach?

The words infringe and encroach are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, infringe implies an encroachment clearly violating a right or prerogative.

infringing a copyright

When can invade be used instead of encroach?

The words invade and encroach can be used in similar contexts, but invade implies a hostile and injurious entry into the territory or sphere of another.

accused of invading their privacy

When could trespass be used to replace encroach?

While the synonyms trespass and encroach are close in meaning, trespass implies an unwarranted or unlawful intrusion.

hunters trespassing on farmland

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of encroach The claustrophobic action inside the bus is played with urgency and heart, engulfed in the darkness of smoke and the red glow of the encroaching fire. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025 While a new generation of young singer-songwriters encroaches on country music’s old guard by the day, the Texas barnstormer has found his footing with a fan base hell-bent on capturing every moment Myers affords them. Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025 But if your peonies are flowering less over time or nearby plants are encroaching on their growing space, dividing them in fall is one simple solution. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Sep. 2025 The rise of fascism encroaches on her like a disease, culminating in a personal invitation from Mussolini himself, but we’re dealt countless scenes of Eleonora’s psychosis before we’re granted a contextual explanation of what feeds it. Blake Simons, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for encroach
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encroach
Verb
  • Israel’s military invaded Gaza after Hamas’s attacks in October 2023, and more than 60,000 people have died in the region, according to the local health ministry.
    Leon Imber, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The four-week run concludes the following Thursday, as the Steelers invade Paycor Stadium for a Week 7 AFC North showdown in Amazon’s primetime window.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The massive cuts to the program remain to be seen as prices continue to creep ever higher for beneficiaries.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Coachella hasn’t sold out since 2023, despite its release dates creeping earlier in the calendar each year.
    Arielle Gordon, Pitchfork, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Lines of hundreds of guests snaked around the inside of the department store (which takes up an entire city block in Manhattan), with onlookers snapping photos quizzically.
    Anika Reed, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The Wild Flint The Flint snakes down Georgia, a safe distance from I-85 and I-75, before joining the Chattahoochee River in Lake Seminole and cutting across the Florida Panhandle as the Apalachicola River.
    David Hanson, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Encroach.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encroach. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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