invade
verb
in·vade in-ˈvād 
invaded; invading
transitive verb
1
: to enter for conquest or plunder
2
: to encroach upon : infringe
3
a
: to spread over or into as if invading : permeate
doubts invade his mind
b
: to affect injuriously and progressively
gangrene invades healthy tissue
invader noun
Synonyms
- foray (into)
- overrun
- raid
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The troops invaded at dawn. When tourists invade, the town is a very different place. The cancer eventually invaded the brain. Weeds had invaded the garden. Bacteria invaded and caused an infection.
Recent Examples on the Web Those relationships were tested within months, when Russia’s Vladimir Putin threatened to invade Ukraine. 
Doyle Mcmanus, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2022 She was arrested at a time when relations between Washington and Moscow were strained, with President Vladimir Putin preparing to invade Ukraine. Mary Ilyushina, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2022 Most of the people from Natalia Popko’s neighborhood in Mariupol supported the Russians when Vladimir V. Putin ordered his forces to invade Ukraine on Feb 24. New York Times, 21 Apr. 2022 The cyber attack on Viasat occurred right as Russia began to invade Ukraine. Michael Kan, PCMAG, 25 Mar. 2022 Belarus has already allowed Russia’s military to use its territory to invade Ukraine. NBC News, 21 Mar. 2022 There are many reasons Putin decided to invade Ukraine, which historians and other experts will be sussing out for years. Joel Mathis, The Week, 21 Mar. 2022 Chinese fighter jets, missiles and warships encircled Taiwan to send a threatening message about the Chinese Communist Party’s readiness to invade if Taipei ever formalizes its independence. Pei-lin Wu, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 Such widening gaps in protection will continue to offer the virus vulnerable pockets to invade. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2022 See More
Doyle Mcmanus, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2022 She was arrested at a time when relations between Washington and Moscow were strained, with President Vladimir Putin preparing to invade Ukraine. Mary Ilyushina, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2022 Most of the people from Natalia Popko’s neighborhood in Mariupol supported the Russians when Vladimir V. Putin ordered his forces to invade Ukraine on Feb 24. New York Times, 21 Apr. 2022 The cyber attack on Viasat occurred right as Russia began to invade Ukraine. Michael Kan, PCMAG, 25 Mar. 2022 Belarus has already allowed Russia’s military to use its territory to invade Ukraine. NBC News, 21 Mar. 2022 There are many reasons Putin decided to invade Ukraine, which historians and other experts will be sussing out for years. Joel Mathis, The Week, 21 Mar. 2022 Chinese fighter jets, missiles and warships encircled Taiwan to send a threatening message about the Chinese Communist Party’s readiness to invade if Taipei ever formalizes its independence. Pei-lin Wu, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2022 Such widening gaps in protection will continue to offer the virus vulnerable pockets to invade. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin invādere "to enter with hostile intent, assault, attack," from in- in- entry 2 + vādere "to advance, go (quickly or purposefully)" — more at wade entry 1
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing invade
Kids Definition
invade
verb
in·vade in-ˈvād
invaded; invading
1
: to enter by force to conquer or plunder
2
: to show lack of respect for
She invaded their privacy.
Medical Definition
invade
transitive verb
in·vade in-ˈvād
invaded; invading
1
: to enter and spread within either normally (as in development) or abnormally (as in infection) often with harmful effects
protect the body from invading viruses
branches of a nerve invade the skin area
2
: to affect injuriously and progressively
gangrene invades healthy tissue
Legal Definition
invade
transitive verb
in·vade
invaded; invading
1
: to encroach upon : infringe
invading a constitutional right
2
: to make payments out of (a fund from which payments are not ordinarily made)
authorized the trustee to invade the principal for educational expenses
invades
verb
as in raids
to enter for conquest or plunder a superpower that had a tendency to invade and take over smaller and weaker countries Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- raids
- dominates
- conquers
- ravages
- occupies
- attacks
- encroaches
- plunders
- overwhelms
- overcomes
- subdues
- overruns
- besieges
- subjugates
- despoils
- vanquishes
- overpowers
- pillages
- ransacks
- assails
- harasses
- assaults
- loots
- besets
- storms
- strips
- forays (into)
- subjects
- rushes
- infringes
- sacks
- fights
- strikes
- trespasses
- combats
- marauds
- crushes
- battles
- garrisons
- blockades
- invests
- wars (with)
- clashes (with)
- beleaguers
- charges
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- protects
- defends
- shields
- resists
- opposes
- guards
- safeguards
- repels
- defies
- withstands
- yields (to)
- submits (to)
- wards
- surrenders (to)
- succumbs (to)
- cedes (to)
- capitulates (to)