encroaching

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

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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 Keeping the encroaching natural world at bay is a struggle in neighborhoods adjacent to Los Angeles County’s wildlands. Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 Not even underage performers are safe from the encroaching tech. Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 25 June 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, 24 June 2026 The latest installment shifts focus from the dynamic between Woody and Buzz to Jessie, telling a story about the encroaching role of technology in children’s development. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 June 2026 For instance, Williams’s looping descriptions of the encroaching wilderness can be quite compelling, but there is something off about them. Hannah Gold, New Yorker, 17 June 2026 Having trekked the territory with his trusty surveyor’s compass, and in the absence of anyone else rash enough to do it, Washington volunteers to deliver an ultimatum to the encroaching French forces. James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026 Brian Crawford and his wife Laura helped form the nonprofit, Protect the Paluxy Valley, to fight against encroaching development impacting the rural area. Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026 The informal gathering is typically off to the side in the back of the arena, with media members milling around but not encroaching on their space. Sam Amick, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encroaching
Verb
  • Costs begin creeping higher, margins get a little tighter and profitability comes under pressure.
    Amy Powell, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • About 1 million 16-to-24-year-olds now find themselves not in employment, education or training, with levels creeping toward highs not seen since the 2008 financial crash.
    Letters to the Editor, Washington Post, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • There can be legitimate debate on immigration, but Trump veers into sinister areas of xenophobia of invading rapists and murderers.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 June 2026
  • This does not mean becoming the team’s psychologist or invading anyone’s privacy.
    Jose Luis Gonzalez Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Encroaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encroaching. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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