intruder
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intruder
A person who enters a place without permission and where they are not wanted, for example a house, a property, or a country.
Der Hund bellte laut, als er den Eindringling im Garten bemerkte.
The dog barked loudly when it noticed the intruder in the garden.
The word is derived from the separable verb 'eindringen' (to penetrate / to intrude), which means 'to get inside' or 'to enter invasively'. The ending '-ling' here refers to a person who performs this action, often with a negative meaning.
Der Eindringling ist durch ein offenes Fenster eingedrungen.
The intruder entered through an open window.
You can tell from context whether a person is meant literally or a thing is meant figuratively. If it is about places such as a house, a person is often meant. With systems such as computers or nature, the figurative meaning is likely.
Die Polizei konnte den Eindringling auf dem Firmengelände schnell fassen.
The police were able to catch the intruder on the company premises quickly.
In the literal meaning, 'Eindringling' (intruder) is often combined with verbs that describe a reaction. Common ones are: 'einen Eindringling bemerken' (to notice an intruder), 'entdecken' (to discover), 'fassen' (to catch), or 'vertreiben' (to drive away).
Die Alarmanlage soll dabei helfen, Eindringlinge frühzeitig zu entdecken.
The alarm system is supposed to help detect intruders early.
The word can also be used figuratively for anything disruptive that gets into an existing system. This can be a computer virus, a weed in the garden, or even a disturbing thought.
Der Techniker suchte nach dem digitalen Eindringling im Netzwerk.
The technician searched for the digital intruder in the network.
striker / attacker
'der Stürmer' and 'der Eindringling' can both have to do with entering a place in an unwanted or violent way. However, the words emphasize different things. In this sense, a 'Stürmer' is a person who actively takes part in an attack or a storming, for example against a fortress. An 'Eindringling' is someone who enters a place without permission, such as a house or a property. Learners may confuse the words because both people get into an area against rules or resistance. 'Stürmer' emphasizes the attack; 'Eindringling' emphasizes entering without permission.
Im Garten hat die Nachbarin einen Eindringling gesehen und die Polizei gerufen.
The neighbor saw an intruder in the garden and called the police.
Die Stürmer versuchten, das Tor der alten Festung aufzubrechen.
The attackers tried to break open the gate of the old fortress.