intrusive

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

|Updated on: 6 Aug 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

The Iran nuclear deal was the most intrusive such agreement ever negotiated, with an extensive role for inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

— heather hurlburt, Daily Intelligencer, "The Trump-Kim Summit May Be Back On – But Success Is Still a Long Shot," 31 May 2018
Taking the step of using an intrusive investigative tool like a human informant would have garnered even greater oversight.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "What Donald Trump doesn't know about how informants work is a lot," 21 May 2018
These improvisatory additions never felt intrusive or showy, but were well within the Gershwin idiom.

— tim smith, baltimoresun.com, "BSO shines in colorful program with Alsop, Gerstein," 2 June 2018
Prior to an intrusive storm cell roving over the field, Kingham had surrendered a pair of singles to Carson Shaddy and Jared Gates.

— nick moyle, San Antonio Express-News, "Arkansas takes down Texas with big inning," 17 June 2018
At our meeting, Arguello listed others, which on first hearing ranged from the commonsense to weirdly intrusive: Posting a bilingual menu.

— jonathan kauffman, SFChronicle.com, "Is 24th Street’s Latino Cultural District enough to stop gentrification?," 15 June 2018
Such moves would not only hurt Facebook’s ability to track users, but also Google and any company, including publishers, that rely heavily on the kinds ad technology that many users consider to be intrusive.

— kevin kelleher, Fortune, "Apple Takes Aim at Facebook With Data Privacy Features in iOS and macOS," 4 June 2018
But no nuclear nonproliferation, arms control, or reduction agreement to date has ever been this intrusive.

— michael krepon, Vox, "Trump has put the US on a path to bombing Iran," 9 May 2018
This match showed why VAR can be valuable but cannot be intrusive.

— thomas allnutt, chicagotribune.com, "Barça hold on for draw against Real - five things we learned," 7 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.

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.