intrusive

adjective

in·​tru·​sive in-ˈtrü-siv 

-ziv

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

intrusive noun

intrusively adverb

intrusiveness noun

Synonyms of intrusive

• busy
• intruding
• obtrusive
• officious
• annoying
• meddlesome

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

Shane has an ultra hands-on mother (Christina Chang), who is eager to help market and monetize his boundary-breaking biracial celebrity, as well as a less aggressively intrusive father (Dylan Walsh). —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025

To her, the pressure to turn her workspace into a permanent guest room felt unfair and intrusive. —Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025

The agency has also reinstated more intrusive background measures, including the return of neighborhood and workplace checks for some naturalization applicants, and ended certain benefit extensions, such as the automatic extension for employment authorization documents. —Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Bentley’s film—co-written by Greg Kwedar, who directed Sing Sing and co-wrote that movie with Bentley—is linear, only looking backward or forward for fleeting, intrusive shots in montages that evoke a life being summarized in a breathless, rushed fashion, maybe not even by the person who lived it. —Rory Doherty, Time, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for intrusive

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

Kids Definition

intrusive

adjective

in·​tru·​sive in-ˈtrü-siv 

-ziv

1

a

: characterized by intrusion

intrusive memories

b

: intruding where one is not welcome or invited

intrusive neighbors

2

: having been forced while in a melted state into cavities or between layers

intrusive rocks

intrusive noun

intrusively adverb

intrusiveness noun

Legal Definition

intrusive

adjective

in·​tru·​sive in-ˈtrü-siv 

: characterized by intrusion

intrusively adverb

intrusiveness noun