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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of infringeCertainly, the raid on Combs’ cell in October and the subsequent material that was accessed by investigators has given the Bad Boy Records founder a wedge to claim his rights to a fair trial and First Amendment protections were infringed upon.—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 19 Nov. 2024 After all, treating yourself shouldn’t infringe on the success of your long-term plans.—Judy Lagrou, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2024 And when there are people who are trying to infringe upon that freedom, the wheels do not work as well in a democracy.—Chris Willman, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024 Our involvement in the matter is to ensure our rights will not be infringed upon.—Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 2 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for infringe
Faced with community complaints, Mayor Karen Bass retools her affordable housing strategy
July 6, 2024
This summer, low-income housing advocates sued the city alleging that Feldstein Soto and Park, with the tacit support of Bass, violated fair housing laws by slow-walking the project.
Liam Dillon,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Dec. 2024
The lawsuit alleges the restaurant violated the Texas Dram Shop Act by failing to uphold its staff to safely sell alcoholic beverages.
Israel evacuated northern communities to create a security buffer instead of invading Lebanon to directly counter Hezbollah’s missile attacks, effectively allowing Hezbollah to continue its strikes.
Amos Yadlin,
Foreign Affairs,
17 Dec. 2024
The bone analysis also showed that almost all of the victims were local to the area, suggesting that the attackers invaded the community to carry out their brutal acts.
Lin said that Philippine vessels had intruded into the shoal's territorial waters, prompting lawful and professional measures from Chinese forces.
Mark R. Weaver,
Newsweek,
4 Dec. 2024
The legal idea is that, under the U.S. constitutional system, power is divided between the national government and states, and states can't intrude beyond their sphere.
He's entrenched at this point, and the company is entrenched simply just based on how much money is invested in them.
Lauren Goode,
WIRED,
5 Dec. 2024
According to Syrian state media SANA, government forces, supported by Russian airpower, have entrenched themselves around Hama, Syria's fourth-largest city, after insurgents retreated 12 miles from the area.
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