SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
encroach
verb
To gradually intrude on another person's space, time, or rights.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Gradually intrude
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topEncroach commonly takes on or upon and often suggests a gradual loss of space, time, or rights.
RELATED FORMS, ONE FEATURED ENTRY
The encroach family
These forms are closely related, but their grammar and use are not identical. Expand a form to compare its meaning and examples.
encroachmentnoun
A gradual intrusion into another space, right, or activity.
Intrusion beyond a boundary
Closest synonyms
Related expressions
Residents objected to the encroachment of parking lots on the green space.
Over time, the needs of the drawing group and the model makers began to diverge as each took on different projects. They could still converge on a practical solution for shared storage, but the growing encroachment of large models into the quiet area needed attention.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See encroach in use
Administrative tasks began to encroach on the time reserved for writing.
Stacked crates began to encroach on a shared passage in a fictional lodging house as the steward added another row each day beyond his allotted storage area.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license