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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of infringeThe separate but similar episodes have sparked a firestorm of accusations, predominantly from Democrats, that Trump and allies are using the federal government to infringe on free speech.—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025 Beryl Lipton, senior investigative researcher at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), told Forbes that amassing and combining vast amounts of information in the way Tangles does can infringe on citizens’ rights.—Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 Per the outlet, his lawyers claim that the docuseries was defamatory and would infringe their right to a fair trial.—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025 Notre Dame received a red-light warning for its policies after FIRE found its data and information technologies policy, which polices how students behave on the university's online network, can substantially infringe on students' rights.—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for infringe
Since then Russia is suspected of testing NATO’s resolve by violating the airspace of Norway, Romania, Denmark, Lithuania, Estonia, and now Germany too.
—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Though Russian craft have repeatedly violated NATO airspace during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the shootdowns over Poland represented the first time NATO had shot down Russian drones.
Blakeney, who left Universal last spring, specializes in equipping theme parks with all of the unsexy infrastructure required to function—toilets, cellphone towers—as well as ensuring that none of it impinges on the illusion.
—
Bianca Bosker,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
Workers aren’t necessarily worried about AI impinging on their jobs – a large majority, 80%, view AI technologies, including gen AI, as more of an opportunity than a threat.
In May 1940, German forces invaded and then occupied the Netherlands, with Belgium and France following shortly thereafter.
—
Time,
Time,
30 Sep. 2025
When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Victoria Amelina was busy writing a novel, taking part in the country’s literary scene, and parenting her son.
—
Nelly Klos
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Many love to have the carefree candor of the vox populi intrude in celebrity circles where prohibitive media training and wellness blather pass for personality.
—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
Trending markets tends to persist until the macro inputs erode or a shock intrudes.
Through dialogue, Reason, Rectitude, and Justice help Christine construct the physical form of the sanctuary city while arguing through allegory against the misogyny entrenched in French society and literature.
—
Emily Zarevich,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Sep. 2025
While the intent here is more to showcase the fashion collection than to become a major film producer, fashion houses are becoming increasingly entrenched in the film world.
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