encroach
4 synonyms and 1 antonym for encroach, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To take hold of or claim something for oneself.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
2. verb
To go further than you should into someone else's land or rights.
“Because change itself would absolutely stay-stable, and again, conversely, stability itself would change, if each of them encroached on the other.”
Opposites
Etymology
Comes from Middle English encrochen, from Old French encrochier ("to seize"), from Old French en- plus croc ("hook"), of Germanic origin. More at crook.
Full origin of encroach →