transgress

/trænzˈgrɛs/

/trænzˈgrɛs/

Other forms: transgressed; transgressing; transgresses

When you go beyond the boundaries, either physically or morally, you transgress. A river will transgress its banks as it floods, and students who cheat transgress school rules.

Transgress sounds like and means nearly the same thing as trespass. When you transgress a rule, you're breaking it. Religions often talk about transgressing: for Christians, breaking a commandment is transgressing against God by violating his wishes. Any transgression is pushing through a boundary: like a neighbor transgressing by letting their dog into your yard: that's a physical and a legal type of transgressing. The dog got into your territory, and the owners broke a rule.

Definitions of transgress

1. verb

   act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
   synonyms: breach, break, go against, infract, offend, violate

   types:

   sin, trespass

   commit a sin; violate a law of God or a moral law

   blunder, boob, drop the ball, goof, sin

   commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake

   conflict, contravene, infringe, run afoul

   go against, as of rules and laws

   trespass

   break the law

   intrude, trespass

   enter unlawfully on someone's property

   fall

   yield to temptation or sin

   break, break in

   enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act

   type of:

   disrespect

   show a lack of respect for
2. verb

   commit a sin; violate a law of God or a moral law
   synonyms: sin, trespass

   types:

   fall

   yield to temptation or sin

   type of:

   breach, break, go against, infract, offend, violate

   act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
3. verb

   pass beyond (limits or boundaries)
   synonyms: overstep, trespass

   type of:

   go across, go through, pass

   go across or through
4. verb

   spread over land, especially along a subsiding shoreline
   “The sea transgresses along the West coast of the island”

   type of:

   overspread, spread

   spread across or over