Synonyms of infringe

infringe

verb

1

as in to violate

Related Words

• violate
• breach
• trespass
• offend
• transgress
• err
• wander
• fall
• sin
• stray
• break
• lapse
• backslide
• mess up

Dissimilar Words

• justify
• forgive
• pardon
• regret
• repent
• rue

2

as in to impinge

Related Words

• impinge
• invade
• intrude
• entrench
• sneak
• encroach
• snake
• overstep
• overrun
• overshoot
• overreach
• worm
• creep
• inch
• overpass

Synonym Chooser

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

Recent Examples of infringe

The songs were deemed different enough in their melody, harmony, rhythm and lyrics to not infringe on copyright. —Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025

Entries must be original, may not be AI-generated in whole or in part, must not constitute a defamation, and must not infringe or violate any right of any third party or entity, including but not limited to copyright, right of publicity, and right of privacy. —Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2025

Now, without benefits, working SNAP recipients like Richardson are left with few options, which health and labor experts warn could push these recipients into poverty and infringe on childhood development. —Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2025

And in one of the more surprising findings, Stein also concluded that ChatGPT’s answers can possibly be found to infringe upon the books they’re trained on. —Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025