It was foolish of him to trespass against the law.
Source: tatoeba (44018)
Trespass
/ˈtɹɛspæs/
Synonyms for "trespass" (248 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (50)
Noun(3 words)
accroachadoptadoptionadvanceadvance uponappropriateappropriationarrogatearrogationassumeassumptionatrocitybad faithbarge inbreachbreach of contractbreach of faithbreach of lawbreach of privilegebreach of promise
Show 27 more words
breach of trustbreach the lawbreakbreak boundsbreak inbreak in uponbreak the lawbreakingburst inbutt incharge incircumvent the lawcome betweencommitcommit a crimecommit sincontravenecontraventioncrashcrash incrash the gatescreep incrimecrime against humanitycrowd incut indeadly sin
Strong matches (74)
defydelinquencyderelictiondeviatedisobey the lawdisregard the lawdo amissdo violence todo wrongdo wrong byedge inelbowelbow inencroachencroachmentenormityenterentranceentrenchentrenchment
Show 43 more words
errerrorevilfailurefaultfelonyfloutfoistfoist ingenocidego too farguilty actheavy sinhorn inimpingeimpingementimposeimpose onimpose uponimpositionimproprietyincursionindiscretioninexpiable sininfiltrateinfiltrationinfluxinfractinfractioninfringeinfringementiniquityinjectioninjuryinjusticeinroadinsinuateinsinuationinterfereinterferenceinterjectioninterlopeinterloping
Verb(5 words)
Related words (124)
intermeddleinterposeinterpositioninterposureinterruptioninterveneinterventionintrudeintrusioninvadeinvasionirruptirruptionknow no boundslapselawbreakingmake an inroadmalefactionmalfeasancemalum
Show 74 more words
meddleminor wrongmisdeedmisdemeanormisfeasancemortal sinnonfeasanceobtrudeobtrusionoffenceoffendoffenseomissionoutrageoverstepoverstep the boundsoversteppingpeccadillopeccancypenetratepiercepillageplay godplaying godpress inpretendpretend toprobepush input onput uponravagerush inseizeseizureset at defianceset at naughtset naught bysinsin of commissionsin of omissionsinful actslink inslipslip insmash insneak insqueeze insteal instorm intake overthrong inthrust intorttrample ontrample underfoottrample upontransgresstransgressiontrenchtrespassingtripunlawful entryunutterable sinusurpusurpationvenial sinviolateviolate the lawviolationviolation of lawwork inworm inwrong
Verb(16 words)
Noun(14 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: encroachment, intrusion, violation, accroach, adopt.
- Sentence evidence is available for trespass, 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 "trespass".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "trespass"
Keep "trespass" 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 "trespass" 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 "trespass", 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 "trespass" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
20 entriesactus reusbreachbreakcivil wrongethical breachgo againstillicit actinfractinfringeintrudemisconductmoral violationoffendpasstorttransgress
Showing 16 of 20 words.
More specific
7 entriesmortal sinoriginal sinprivacy intrusionrights encroachmenttrespass to chatteltrespass to chattelstrespass to land
Collocations
9 entriescivil trespasscriminal trespasstrespass lawtrespass noticetrespass on propertytrespass to chatteltrespass to chattelstrespass to landunlawful trespass
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
23 total sentences available.
It was not permitted that the inhabitants trespass in the area.
Source: tatoeba (266484)
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Source: tatoeba (539686)
He was an amiable fellow, but had a certain reserve that he would not let you casually trespass upon.
Source: tatoeba (644385)
Showing 4 of 23 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "trespass"?
Closest matches include encroachment, intrusion, violation, accroach, adopt.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "trespass"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.