irruptive

adjective

ir·​rup·​tive i-ˈrəp-tiv How to pronounce irruptive (audio)
: tending to irrupt : marked by or undergoing irruption
irruptive passions
irruptively adverb

Examples of irruptive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Meanwhile, the irruptive species—birds who irregularly migrate—like crossbills, redpolls, grosbeaks, and purple finches stayed north, resulting in lower talleys for the annual count in most of the United States. Mika McKinnon, Smithsonian, 15 Dec. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'irruptive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of irruptive was in 1593

Dictionary Entries Near irruptive

Cite this Entry

“Irruptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irruptive. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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