trespassing
Entering without permission
Trespassing is entering or remaining on property without permission from the owner.
It is both a legal term describing a civil wrong or criminal offense and an everyday word for unauthorized presence on someone's land.
Signs reading "No Trespassing" warn that entry is forbidden and may result in prosecution.
The teens were caught trespassing on the construction site.
The word extends metaphorically to violations of personal boundaries or private matters.
Unauthorized person present
- prowlerOne who lurks suspiciously
- encroachmentGradual intrusion on territory
- sneakingMoving to avoid detection
- break-inUnlawful entry to premises
uninvited · unwelcome · invader · infiltration · entry · breach · unauthorized · incursion
Lesser criminal charge
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- convictionFirmly held belief
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- fineAcceptable in quality
unlawful · illegal · offense · guilty · violation · infraction · citation · warning
Officially not permitted
- off-limitsProhibited from access
- restrictedLimited in scope
- barredBlocked from entry
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
ban · out-of-bounds · unauthorized · verboten · fenced · gated · barricaded · cordoned
Remaining beyond expected duration
- skulkingMoving furtively, covertly
- lurkingConcealed and watchful
- prowlingMoving stealthily while hunting
- wanderingTraveling with no fixed course
idling · soliciting · vagrancy · suspicious · casing · surveillance · watching · waiting
intruder
Unauthorized person present
- prowlerOne who lurks suspiciously
- encroachmentGradual intrusion on territory
- sneakingMoving to avoid detection
break-in · uninvited · unwelcome · invader · infiltration · entry · breach · unauthorized · incursion · overstepping
misdemeanor
Lesser criminal charge
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- convictionFirmly held belief
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
fine · unlawful · illegal · offense · guilty · violation · infraction · citation · warning · arrest
prohibited
Officially not permitted
- off-limitsProhibited from access
- restrictedLimited in scope
- barredBlocked from entry
exclusion · ban · out-of-bounds · unauthorized · verboten · fenced · gated · barricaded · cordoned
lingering
Remaining beyond expected duration
- skulkingMoving furtively, covertly
- lurkingConcealed and watchful
- prowlingMoving stealthily while hunting
wandering · idling · soliciting · vagrancy · suspicious · casing · surveillance · watching · waiting · dawdling
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- neighbor disputesfence disputes, property lines, noise complaints, barking dogs, loud music
- criminal chargesarson, burglary, homicide, kidnapping, robbery
- Infractionsjaywalking, littering, loitering, speeding, parking violation
- misdemeanorsmisdemeanor, petty theft, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, petty larceny
- offensesarson, robbery, treason, vandalism, kidnapping
trespassingleaving
Act of going away
exiting · retreating · departing · withdrawing · vacating
- no trespassingPosted boundary warning
- no trespassing signPosted boundary warning