obtrusive

adjective

ob·​tru·​sive əb-ˈtrü-siv 

-ziv,

äb-

1

a

: forward in manner or conduct

obtrusive behavior

The waiter was attentive without being obtrusive.

b

: undesirably prominent

obtrusive TV commercials

2

: thrust out : protruding

a sharp obtrusive edge

obtrusively adverb

obtrusiveness noun

Synonyms

• busy
• intrusive
• intruding
• officious
• annoying

Choose the Right Synonym for obtrusive

impertinent, officious, meddlesome, intrusive, obtrusive mean given to thrusting oneself into the affairs of others.

impertinent implies exceeding the bounds of propriety in showing interest or curiosity or in offering advice.

resented their impertinent interference

officious implies the offering of services or attentions that are unwelcome or annoying.

officious friends made the job harder

meddlesome stresses an annoying and usually prying interference in others' affairs.

a meddlesome landlord

intrusive implies a tactless or otherwise objectionable thrusting into others' affairs.

tried to be helpful without being intrusive

obtrusive stresses improper or offensive conspicuousness of interfering actions.

expressed an obtrusive concern for his safety

Examples of obtrusive in a Sentence

The waiter was attentive without being obtrusive.

We used less obtrusive colors in the bedrooms.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Fitbit Charge 6 has a similarly comfortable design, while the Oura Ring 4 is the least obtrusive of the bunch. —PC Magazine, 15 Aug. 2025

However, the wearable technology of the day was clunky and obtrusive, and the emotion-recognition software was primitive. —Nick Haber, IEEE Spectrum, 26 Mar. 2020

Does the arch of the shoe feel supportive, or obtrusive? —Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 11 Aug. 2025

As a next step, the team aims to miniaturize the signal processing and capacitance measurement parts of the system to make the sensor even smaller and less obtrusive. —Jeremy Hsu, IEEE Spectrum, 26 June 2014

Word History

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for obtrusive

• abusive
• allusive
• collusive
• conclusive
• conducive
• delusive
• diffusive
• elusive
• exclusive
• extrusive
• illusive
• inclusive

Kids Definition

obtrusive

adjective

ob·​tru·​sive əb-ˈtrü-siv 

äb-,

-ziv

: likely to obtrude

obtrusively adverb

obtrusiveness noun