encroaching

Definition of encroachingnext
present participle of encroach
as in creeping
to advance gradually beyond the usual or desirable limits each year the sea continues to encroach upon the island's beaches

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 encroaching Brooks has no interest in the broader sweep of history and, indeed, no apparent knowledge of the philosophical accounts of encroaching meaninglessness which have been on offer for centuries. Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026 Despite the many microphones, cameras and phones recording him — and a huddle of people encroaching on his personal space — Edwards could not stop smiling. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026 Along the way, the pair grapple with romance, friendship, and the pressures of encroaching adulthood. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Mar. 2026 And nearly three-in-five Americans today fear the encroaching AI job apocalypse could make housing even more unattainable. Jake Angelo, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026 This is news that is bound to be celebrated by many in the creative community who have become loudly and vehemently opposed to anything AI encroaching on Hollywood. Brian Welk, IndieWire, 24 Mar. 2026 On her grandmother's island of Ambae, a coastal road from the airport to her village has been rerouted inland because of encroaching water. CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026 On her grandmother’s island of Ambae, a coastal road from the airport to her village has been rerouted inland because of encroaching water. ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026 The beach is regularly groomed, cleaned, and kept clear of encroaching vegetation, resulting in a pristine white-sand beach that’s unmatched anywhere else in the state. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encroaching
Verb
  • The technology is sweeping almost every profession while also creeping into people’s personal lives, sometimes with devastating consequences.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Her works explored Oedipal urges and creeping fascism.
    Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The states argue the data collection risks invading student privacy, and leads to baseless investigations of colleges and universities.
    CBS News, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Of these three exceptions, the only one that still applies is to the children of diplomats, as there are no invading armies, and Native Americans were granted automatic citizenship in 1924.
    Nina Totenberg, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Encroaching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encroaching. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on encroaching

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster