encroach

Plural: encroaches

Verb

Verb Forms: encroached, encroaching, encroaches

To intrude gradually or steadily upon another's property or rights.
advance beyond the usual limit
impinge or infringe upon
to seize, appropriate
To intrude unrightfully on someone else’s rights or territory.
To advance gradually beyond due limits.

Noun

Encroachment.

Examples

Gradually the negative feelings encroached into her work.
He never allows work to encroach upon his family life.
Her opponent’s words began to encroach on her prime scoring territory.
I won’t encroach on your time any longer.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English encrochen, from Old French encrochier (“to seize”), from Old French en- + croc (“hook”), of Germanic origin. More at crook.

Synonyms

entrench, impinge, infringe, trench

Scrabble Score: 15

encroach: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
encroach: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
encroach: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 17

encroach: valid Words With Friends Word