infringe

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

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 infringe TikTok has denied any wrongdoing or having any links to the Chinese government, claiming in a lawsuit the law infringes on the company’s First Amendment rights. Ty Roush, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025 But free speech advocates — like the Free Speech Coalition, which is challenging Texas' law — say such rules could infringe upon adults' First Amendment rights. Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025 Last week an attorney for TikTok had argued before the Supreme Court that a bipartisan law that mandated the sale or ban infringed on the company’s First Amendment rights. Ben Guarino, Scientific American, 17 Jan. 2025 Precinct brass need to figure out legit parking that meets the needs of officers without infringing on the community. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for infringe 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infringe
Verb
  • The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, argues that the decision violated federal law.
    Hamed Aleaziz, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The Project Rise investors fired off a legal letter in October 2024 claiming that Paramount’s special committee violated its fiduciary duty to shareholders by neglecting to consider the group’s previous $8.5 billion bid for the company.
    Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Prompted by concerns from Trump and American voices, negotiators have added language to their draft explaining that the treaty would not impinge on a country's sovereignty or provide WHO any authority over domestic policies.
    Fatma Tanis, NPR, 17 Jan. 2025
  • And after Trump won this past November's election, his lawyers argued that the case had to be scrapped to avoid impinging on his upcoming presidency and his transition to the Oval Office.
    MICHAEL R. SISAK, TIME, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Their return was pushed back by 48 hours after Israel accused Hamas of breaching the terms of the fragile ceasefire agreement.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Many of those convicted or awaiting trial for breaching the Capitol building on January 6th have been held there for the past several years.
    Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Renowned photographer Ryszard Horowitz was born on May 5th, 1939, to a loving family in the historic city of Kraków, the former capital of Poland, but just four months later Nazi Germany invaded Poland, resulting in utter devastation.
    Danuta Hamlin, Fox News, 25 Jan. 2025
  • To the delight of the band and chagrin of producers, hundreds of punks invaded the show, stage-diving and slam-dancing their way to TV notoriety and leading to the urban legend that Michaels banned the group from the show.
    Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • This buttresses the claim of how vital PVOD is, even if its often early streaming release (in this case after six weekends, later than usual for Universal) seems to intrude on theatrical play.
    Tom Brueggemann, IndieWire, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Wind and sirens intrude, followed by helicopter blades.
    Brendan Fitzgerald, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • In the black-and-white image taken during the 1966-1967 school year, Banderas, now 64, is one of the only students looking up at the camera, wearing what appears to be a smirk, as his classmates appear deeply entrenched in their schoolwork.
    Jen Juneau, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Disability advocates have been sounding the alarm for months as the word has once more became entrenched as a commonplace eptithet, despite their long and tireless campaign to protect the intellectually disabled from pejorative abuse.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near infringe

Cite this Entry

“Infringe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infringe. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on infringe

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