Invade

/ɪnˈveɪd/

Synonyms for "invade" (143 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (29)

accroachadoptadvanceadvance uponappropriatearrogateassumebarge inbesetboardbreachbreak boundsbreak inbreak in uponburst inbutt incharge income betweencrashcrash in
Show 5 more words
crash the gatescrawl withcreep increep withcrowd in

Strong matches (43)

Related words (71)

interveneintrudeinundateirruptknow no boundsmake a raidmake an inroadmeddleobtrudeoverrunoverspreadoverstepoverstep the boundsoverswarmoverwhelmpermeatepillageplagueplay godpress in
Show 31 more words
pretendpretend topush input onput uponraidravagerush inscalescale the wallsseizeslink inslip insmash insneak insqueeze insteal instormstorm inswarmswarm withtake by stormtake overthrong inthrust intransgresstrenchtrespassusurpwork inworm in
Noun(6 words)
invadingoverrun timeoverrunningoverrunsraidstrespass with force

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: overrun, accroach, adopt, advance, advance upon.
  • Sentence evidence is available for invade, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "invade".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "invade"

Keep "invade" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "invade" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "invade", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "invade" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

18 entries
armed conflictassailattackbiological processcome inencroachmententerget inget intogo ingo intoinhabitinterpenetrateintrusionmilitary actionmove into

Showing 16 of 18 words.

More specific

6 entries

Collocations

6 entries
biological invasioninvasion of privacyinvasion routeinvasive speciesmilitary invasionpathogen invasion

Inflections

3 entries

Derivations

7 entries

Sample sentences

21 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

You must not invade the privacy of others.

Source: tatoeba (69131)

Hull was given immediate orders to invade Canada.

Source: tatoeba (807648)

North Korea decided the time was right to invade.

Source: tatoeba (807656)

When did the barbarians first invade Rome?

Source: tatoeba (2763335)

Showing 4 of 21 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "invade"?

Closest matches include overrun, accroach, adopt, advance, advance upon.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "invade"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "invade"