intrusive

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

|Updated on: 11 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: intrusive in a Sentence

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

First, no country has ever submitted to that level of intrusive inspection.

— heather hurlburt, Daily Intelligencer, "The Trump-Kim Summit May Be Back On – But Success Is Still a Long Shot," 31 May 2018
And even in Pyongyang, Western and South Korean pressure groups attest, the deadening totalitarian system is as intrusive as ever.

— The Economist, "What life is like for ordinary North Koreans," 26 May 2018
Advancing smart technologies, like driverless cars, may ensure safer, securer, more efficient, and non-intrusive drone operations, with benefit of helping alleviate congested roads.

— phillip molnar, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Does it make economic sense to deliver consumer goods by drone?," 18 May 2018
When compared to the log completers, participants who played Tetris were less likely to report post-trauma intrusive memories and related psychological distress in the week that followed their car accident.

— shaili jain, STAT, "Preventing PTSD: calling Dr. Tetris?," 14 May 2018
Critics of the deal contend that its shortcomings outweigh the benefits of the IAEA's intrusive oversight.

— author: joby warrick, Anchorage Daily News, "Muzzled watchdog: How killing the nuclear deal could make it easier for Iran to pursue the bomb in secret," 8 May 2018
Yet for more than a decade, kitchen workers endured intrusive mass strip searches without a scintilla of privacy,'' attorneys Tonna K. Farrar and Leonard Berman wrote on Cunningham's behalf.

— maxine bernstein, OregonLive.com, "Group strip searches of Multnomah County inmates is subject of appeal before federal panel," 8 May 2018
Even the idea of intrusive, personalized ads, which have been unnerving in past movies like Minority Report, come off as nothing more than the evolution of modern web-browsing in Anon.

— bryan bishop, The Verge, "Netflix’s Anon is an augmented reality neo-noir nightmare," 4 May 2018
Díaz recounts singing, intrusive flashbacks that lead to torturous nightmares, teeth grinding, self-harm, stomach upset — an overall dis-ease of the body.

— danielle jackson, Longreads, "On Junot Díaz’s ‘The Silence’ and Our Uncomfortable Reckoning," 24 Apr. 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.