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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of infringeMitchell viewed that as the council attempting to silence him and infringe upon his right to freedom of speech.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 June 2026 And a supermarket should not be allowed to infringe on a football ground.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
21 May 2026 Companies will test the boundaries Boyden speculated that offering different prices based on how much a customer uses a service, or advertising in particular ways to entice customers who are more likely to infringe, might constitute tailoring a service for piracy.—ArsTechnica,
11 May 2026 The current state of the case entails Russ demanding a court declaration that his use of Denaro Puro doesn’t infringe Nike, that Nike’s trade dress claims are invalid, and that Nike’s rights in Pure Money are unenforceable with respect to Denaro Puro.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for infringe
Trump said that Iran violated the ceasefire agreement and that US aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, as well as coastal radar sites.
—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
28 June 2026
But both have accused the other of violating their end of the agreement.
Funding that is distributed to governments or organizations working in repressive countries carries the grave risk of empowering security actors that not only impinge on the rights of refugees but also those of citizens.
—
Kelsey Norman,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
The legal case, decided at an emergency hearing in a Los Angeles courthouse on Monday morning, was brought by an Iranian fan who said FIFA’s block impinged freedom of speech, but the judge rejected that argument.
But getting out of military service remains controversial in South Korea, and last week, a minor scandal intruded on the usual rhythms of the World Cup.
—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
24 June 2026
The nonstop attention-seeking of our current president threatens to intrude on the day.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
Morales has been entrenched in his coca-growing stronghold in the Chapare region since 2024 and has refused to appear before the courts.
—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 June 2026
That leverage could be used to benefit Musk’s businesses, securing further contracts with the government and entrenching him deeper into the infrastructure of everyone’s lives.