as in invades
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits
each year the sea continues to encroach upon the island's beaches
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Recent Examples of encroaches
Cloud Dancer, a white that is both warm and cool, reflects an overwhelmed feeling among consumers as the world feels louder and technology, in particular AI, encroaches further into our lives.
—
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
As the third weekend of November encroaches upon us, so does the holiday season — and streaming networks are picking up the cheer in full swing.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
The study reveals as urbanization increasingly encroaches upon bat-safe caves, invasive, city-dwelling rats are likely to follow.
—NPR, 8 Nov. 2025
Apparently, our west block wall encroaches six feet into our neighbor’s back yard, which includes our swimming pool motor and related equipment.
—Christopher A. Combs, AZCentral.com, 16 Sep. 2025
While a new generation of young singer-songwriters encroaches on country music’s old guard by the day, the Texas barnstormer has found his footing with a fan base hell-bent on capturing every moment Myers affords them.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
The rise of fascism encroaches on her like a disease, culminating in a personal invitation from Mussolini himself, but we’re dealt countless scenes of Eleonora’s psychosis before we’re granted a contextual explanation of what feeds it.
—Blake Simons, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
However, if someone encroaches on another traveler's space, the airline may reassign them to a different seat or ask them to take a later flight.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
García plays 65-year-old coffee grower Victoria who challenges a real estate project that encroaches on her land and disrupts her life.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 11 Aug. 2025
Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
As the third weekend of November encroaches upon us, so does the holiday season — and streaming networks are picking up the cheer in full swing.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
The study reveals as urbanization increasingly encroaches upon bat-safe caves, invasive, city-dwelling rats are likely to follow.
—NPR, 8 Nov. 2025
Apparently, our west block wall encroaches six feet into our neighbor’s back yard, which includes our swimming pool motor and related equipment.
—Christopher A. Combs, AZCentral.com, 16 Sep. 2025
While a new generation of young singer-songwriters encroaches on country music’s old guard by the day, the Texas barnstormer has found his footing with a fan base hell-bent on capturing every moment Myers affords them.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2025
The rise of fascism encroaches on her like a disease, culminating in a personal invitation from Mussolini himself, but we’re dealt countless scenes of Eleonora’s psychosis before we’re granted a contextual explanation of what feeds it.
—Blake Simons, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
However, if someone encroaches on another traveler's space, the airline may reassign them to a different seat or ask them to take a later flight.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
García plays 65-year-old coffee grower Victoria who challenges a real estate project that encroaches on her land and disrupts her life.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encroaches
Verb
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Moisture invades your porch cushions and flooring, leading to the growth of mold, mildew, and algae.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
4 Jan. 2026
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Both sides gave conflicting accounts of the incident, which follows weeks of retaliation from China after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Tokyo might intervene if China invades Taiwan.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Move too far away from it and the outside chill creeps in.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
23 Dec. 2025
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Depop determined that, as decision fatigue creeps into even the act of getting dressed, reliable replicas (think tailored trousers, sharp outerwear, crisp button-downs) will become the backbone of Gen Z wardrobes.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Republicans can comfort themselves that a win is still a win—and that their House majority inches up to 220–213, at least until other vacancies kick in.—
Newsweek Editors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Dec. 2025
-
The news comes as Hendricks Commercial Properties inches closer to a massive overhaul of the mall that could take years to complete.—
Jenny Porter Tilley,
IndyStar,
21 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The skating ribbon at Maggie Daley Park in Chicago is an artificial trail that snakes a quarter-mile around towering climbing walls, with glittering skyscrapers for a backdrop.—
Ginger Crichton,
Midwest Living,
9 Jan. 2026
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Englewood is home to Cedar Point Environmental Park along Lemon Bay, where pine flatwoods cover most of the park, and Oyster Creek Regional Park, where a boardwalk snakes through tidal mangroves, allowing visitors to enjoy bird-watching.—
Dobrina Zhekova,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encroaches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encroaches. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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