inroad

[in-rohd]

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noun

a damaging or serious encroachment: inroads on our savings.

a sudden hostile or predatory incursion; raid; foray.

Origin of inroad

First recorded in 1540–50; in-¹ + road

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for inroads

The state was a key Democratic pickup in 2008, a symbol of Democratic inroads into the Republican West.
Your Election Night Guide|The Daily Beast|November 1, 2010|DAILY BEAST
A few centuries ago Europe feared the inroads of Eastern barbarians; now, any such fear would be ridiculous.
The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, Vol. I (1st edition)|Charles Darwin
Moab was more exposed to the inroads of its nomadic neighbours from the wilderness than its sister-kingdom of Ammon.
Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations|Archibald Sayce
The Creeks were still hostile and continued their inroads upon the western settlements.
Myths of the Cherokee|James Mooney

These various manifestations are all produced by the inroads of the specific organism, Bacillus tuberculosis.
Outlines of dairy bacteriology|H. L. Russell
They therefore deserved to be guarded from the inroads of fever and fatigue.
The Usurper|Judith Gautier

British Dictionary definitions for inroads

inroad

noun

an invasion or hostile attack; raid or incursion

an encroachment or intrusion

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for inroads

inroad

1540s, "hostile incursion, raid, foray," from in- (2) "in;" second element is road in the obsolete sense of "riding;" related to raid. Related: Inroads.

Idioms and Phrases with inroads