Thesaurus results for ENCROACH

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

encroach

verb

in-ˈkrōch

Definition of encroach next

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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Synonym Chooser

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

Examples 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 Companies including Amazon and Apple are spending big, driving up the price of live sports rights and encroaching further on the turf of legacy network rivals. —

Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024 Nomada Studio created a lush, beautiful world that’s plagued by an icky, encroaching darkness. —

Kris Holt, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 There’s also the risk that overconfident computer scientists, who have helped advance the field of AI, start to see AI work being awarded Nobel Prizes in unrelated scientific fields—in this instance, physics and chemistry—and decide to follow in their footsteps, encroaching on other people’s turf. —

Chris Stokel-Walker, WIRED, 9 Oct. 2024 When the battle took place, the Persian forces, led by Darius, King of Kings, had conquered and absorbed large swathes of western Asia and north Africa and were encroaching on northern Greece. —

Miriam Kamil, JSTOR Daily, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for encroach

Recent Examples of Synonyms for encroach

Verb

President Harry Truman, shortly after World War II, made a $100 million offer for Greenland, according to the Post. Axios: Trump is dreaming to expand the American empire, floating acquiring Greenland, annexing Canada, and potentially invading Mexico.

Emily Brooks, The Hill, 25 Dec. 2024
In October, Israeli ground troops invaded southern Lebanon after a year of fighting with Hezbollah militants.

Josef Federman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Dec. 2024