How does the verb infringe differ from other similar words?
Some common synonyms of infringe are encroach, invade, and trespass. While all these words mean "to make inroads upon the property, territory, or rights of another," infringe implies an encroachment clearly violating a right or prerogative.
infringing a copyright
When is it sensible to use encroach instead of infringe?
In some situations, the words encroach and infringe are roughly equivalent. However, 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
When can invade be used instead of infringe?
While in some cases nearly identical to infringe, invade implies a hostile and injurious entry into the territory or sphere of another.
accused of invading their privacy
When might trespass be a better fit than infringe?
The synonyms trespass and infringe are sometimes interchangeable, but trespass implies an unwarranted or unlawful intrusion.
hunters trespassing on farmland
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of infringeOf note: Your Content must not be false, defamatory, misleading or hateful, or infringe any copyright or any other third-party rights or otherwise be unlawful.—Brian M. Rosenthal, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025 Forbes sent a cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity in June, accusing it of infringing copyright.—Rashi Shrivastava, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Wendy Chang, in a ruling issued on Monday, rejected WBTV’s bid to dismiss the lawsuit on free speech grounds, finding that the studio may have interfered with the estate’s contract rights and infringed the copyright of ER.—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2025 Crews have widened sidewalks on either side of Grand Avenue on the two blocks from Broadway to Juniper Street, which will allow more outdoor dining areas without infringing on pedestrian pathways.—Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for infringe
Typically, the Office for Civil Rights investigates a complaint and finds out whether a school or district has violated its obligation to serve students with disabilities.
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Kayla Jimenez,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
The latest case before the court involves Louisiana's congressional map, which was redrawn last year to add a second majority-Black district to comply with Section 2, but then was found to be a racial gerrymander that violated the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.
Swollen rivers could breach their banks in the coming days as floodwater filters back into area waterways.
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Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2025
In 2024, the planet breached 1.5°C of warming above pre-industrial temperatures, an ominous milestone—and a reminder of the urgency with which the world must tackle this challenge.
The array of messages from Johnson midway into his term paint a picture of a freshman executive entrenching further into his identity as a Black mayor after two years of steep setbacks and attacks on his leadership abilities.
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Regina Garcia Cano,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2025
After moving to Thursday at 8 p.m. ET in season four, The Big Bang Theory was firmly entrenched in the top 10.
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