encroaching

Definition of encroachingnext
present participle of encroach
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

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of encroaching Coyotes are encroaching on urban areas, and have killed household pets and livestock, while sometimes also biting humans. Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 27 Jan. 2026 Next to him on the catwalk-slash-stage, Marguerite LeRolland, senior global insight manager at data analytics firm Euromonitor, spoke about the shifting political landscape and encroaching economic pressures. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 23 Jan. 2026 Amazon has been increasingly encroaching on Walmart’s turf, even as Walmart bolsters its e-commerce operations, signaling its intent to further expand its physical footprint and grocery offerings. Bloomberg, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026 Trimming encroaching ivy protects fences, trees, and property by preventing rot, storm damage, and moisture buildup that attracts pests. Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 14 Jan. 2026 Acura sold 30,235 of them last year, with the cheaper, new-for-2025 Acura ADX likely encroaching on its turf. Adam Ismail, The Drive, 14 Jan. 2026 There are many regulations and legal precedents indicating who is responsible for encroaching landscaping, fence issues, parking problems and more. Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 13 Jan. 2026 Nobody wants to deal with our old devil, even if the new one comes with an encroaching open threat actively bubbling in the Caribbean and Latin America at large. Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026 Twelves went to the left flank of the fire, which was encroaching on homes off Altadena Drive alongside Eaton Canyon. Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encroaching
Verb
  • Innovation in Production Across legal markets, AI is already creeping into cultivation, not as sci-fi robots trimming buds, but as quiet systems making decisions humans used to make by gut.
    Aisha Alves, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Still, meetings have a way of creeping back onto calendars, so leaders need to empower their employees to defend their time and decline meetings, which can feel awkward or even insulting to the organizer.
    Claire Zillman, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has stressed that the agency is not invading or raiding classrooms.
    Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Infantino was also pressed on the calls for countries to boycott this year’s World Cup due to concerns relating to Trump’s rhetoric around invading Greenland and his domestic immigration policies.
    Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Encroaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encroaching. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on encroaching

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!