intrusive

adjective in·tru·sive \ in-ˈtrü-siv , -ziv \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of intrusive

1 a : characterized by intrusion

b : intruding where one is not welcome or invited

2 a : projecting inward

an intrusive arm of the sea

b (1) of a rock : having been forced while in a plastic state into cavities or between layers

(2) : plutonic

3 : having nothing that corresponds to a sound or letter in orthography or etymon

intrusive \t\ in \ˈmints\ for mince

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intrusive

noun

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intrusively

adverb

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intrusiveness

noun

See intrusive defined for English-language learners

See intrusive defined for kids

Examples of intrusive in a Sentence

a loud and intrusive person
She tried to be helpful without being intrusive.
Intrusive reporters disturbed their privacy.

Recent Examples of intrusive from the Web

Readers reacted in ways that were intrusive, inappropriate, and hurtful.

— sari botton, Longreads, "Our Bodies, Our Selves," 9 Apr. 2018
The second version of the video, directed by Michel Gondry, is a fiasco, a halfhearted parody of the show Bewitched featuring endless celebrity cameos and intrusive dialogue and sound effects.

— morgan enos, Billboard, "Before Taylor Swift's 'Delicate,' These 10 Songs Had More Than One Music Video," 30 Mar. 2018
It’s often the subtle but creepy stuff: a lingering stare, an intrusive question, even an unwanted touch on the arm.

— tara duggan, San Francisco Chronicle, "Oakland restaurant devises system to combat customers’ harassment of workers," 29 Mar. 2018
Other mechanisms are less intrusive and are meant to prevent accidental discharge in the event the gun is dropped or mishandled.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "What a Gun Is," 7 Mar. 2018
The female hormonal contraceptive pill was approved by the FDA in 1960, and interest in her work waned as the quest for non-intrusive, reliable contraception was deemed by many to have been realized.

— hannah flynn, Ars Technica, "More than half a century later, where’s the male pill?," 28 Feb. 2018
Many companies consider the rule unnecessary and overly intrusive, but environmental groups warn that methane emissions from oil and gas operations are the second-largest industrial contributor to climate change in the United States.

— matthew daly, Houston Chronicle, "Interior to replace Obama-era rule on methane emissions," 12 Feb. 2018
Today, the choreography blooms by having far less intrusive designs and costumes.

— alastair macaulay, New York Times, "Review: ‘Transmissions’ Evokes a Climate (Poetic, With a Chance of Ballet)," 26 Mar. 2018
Once America walks away and the deal collapses, Iran will be able to reconstitute its nuclear program—and without the presence of an intrusive inspections regime.

— eric cortellessa, The New Republic, "Will Trump Be the President Who Gives Iran the Bomb?," 24 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intrusive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of intrusive

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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intrusive Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of intrusive

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.