as in creeping
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits
each year the sea continues to encroach upon the island's beaches
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of encroaching
On her grandmother's island of Ambae, a coastal road from the airport to her village has been rerouted inland because of encroaching water.
—
CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
On her grandmother’s island of Ambae, a coastal road from the airport to her village has been rerouted inland because of encroaching water.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Some states now argue that prediction markets, which are federally regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and often offer betting lines on outcomes in sporting events, are encroaching on their regulated sportsbooks.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
The beach is regularly groomed, cleaned, and kept clear of encroaching vegetation, resulting in a pristine white-sand beach that’s unmatched anywhere else in the state.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2026
These insects are still evolving, and humans are increasingly encroaching on wild areas—more mosquitoes could continue to adapt to prefer feasting on us over other animals.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 26 Feb. 2026
Residents have raised concerns about the centers encroaching on their rural lifestyles.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Feb. 2026
The plans, released in November, showed roadways encroaching on landmarks and fragmenting neighborhoods in historically Black parts of the city.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Groundcover Low-growing groundcover junipers seldom need pruning except to remove dead tips resulting from winter damage or to keep them from encroaching on other plants, sidewalks, driveways or structures.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2026
CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
On her grandmother’s island of Ambae, a coastal road from the airport to her village has been rerouted inland because of encroaching water.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Some states now argue that prediction markets, which are federally regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and often offer betting lines on outcomes in sporting events, are encroaching on their regulated sportsbooks.
—Garrett Downs, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
The beach is regularly groomed, cleaned, and kept clear of encroaching vegetation, resulting in a pristine white-sand beach that’s unmatched anywhere else in the state.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2026
These insects are still evolving, and humans are increasingly encroaching on wild areas—more mosquitoes could continue to adapt to prefer feasting on us over other animals.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 26 Feb. 2026
Residents have raised concerns about the centers encroaching on their rural lifestyles.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Feb. 2026
The plans, released in November, showed roadways encroaching on landmarks and fragmenting neighborhoods in historically Black parts of the city.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Groundcover Low-growing groundcover junipers seldom need pruning except to remove dead tips resulting from winter damage or to keep them from encroaching on other plants, sidewalks, driveways or structures.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encroaching
Verb
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Because the weeds will start creeping through the cracks in no time, grab the Grampa’s Weeder that gardeners in their 50s, 60s, and 70s use without bending down.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Mar. 2026
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And despite volatility across markets, oil prices don’t seem to be creeping back toward catastrophic levels.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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According to some experts in South Florida, the invading eels could pose a similar threat to native food webs and restoration efforts there.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
12 Mar. 2026
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In 2003, after invading Iraq, initial approval for that war dropped to about 70-75%.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encroaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encroaching. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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