intrusive

adjective

in·tru·sive | \in-ˈtrü-siv,

-ziv\

Definition of intrusive

1a : characterized by intrusion

b : intruding where one is not welcome or invited

2a : 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

Other Words from intrusive Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about intrusive

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Choose the Right Synonym for 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. 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 intrusive in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

But sometimes, there was no getting around the tininess: The master bedroom is just 140 square feet and awkwardly shaped, with bizarre angles and intrusive slopes. — Kathleen Renda, House Beautiful, "This Icelandic Apartment Is Filled With Small-Space Inspiration," 16 Aug. 2018 For the most part, Justin and Hailey seem to have ignored all of the noise, but the singer responded to one particularly intrusive rumor on Friday, July 20, after being followed at length by a paparazzo. — De Elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "A Paparazzo Followed Justin Bieber Around to Ask If Hailey Baldwin Is Pregnant," 22 July 2018 While Scotland has had its own law on upskirting for almost a decade, there is no specific legislation against the intrusive act in England and Wales, according to the UK's Press Association. — Judith Vonberg, CNN, "Upskirting likely to become criminal offense in UK," 15 June 2018 Over time, kids living with the stress of community violence may become less engaged in school, withdraw from friends or show symptoms of post-traumatic stress, like irritability and intrusive thoughts. — Darby Saxbe, Scientific American, "Living with Neighborhood Violence May Shape Teens’ Brains," 15 June 2018 Anduril is also staffed by former executives from the secretive data-crunching company Palantir, which has done for government industries in the past and raised red flags about intrusive surveillance. — Shoshana Wodinsky, The Verge, "Palmer Luckey’s border control tech has already caught dozens of people," 11 June 2018 Chairman Ajit Pai has said the rules were too intrusive. — Brett Molina, USA TODAY, "Washington sticks it to the FCC, passes its own net neutrality rules," 6 Mar. 2018 But Bart Shepherd, who directs the Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences, with colleagues there and at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, thought there was a less intrusive way. — Joanna Klein, New York Times, "This Device Helps Fish Make It Out of the Twilight Zone Alive," 9 June 2018 Opposition to the takeover also has been fueled by claims from several JCPS board members that Lewis’ predecessor, former Commissioner Stephen Pruitt, was going to recommend a less intrusive form of intervention known as state assistance. — Mandy Mclaren, The Courier-Journal, "JCPS board will fight back against state takeover in appeal," 29 May 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.