obtrusive

adjective ob·tru·sive \ əb-ˈtrü-siv , -ziv , äb- \

Definition of obtrusive

1 a :forward in manner or conduct

obtrusive behavior

The waiter was attentive without being obtrusive.

b :undesirably prominent

obtrusive TV commercials

2 :thrust out :protruding

a sharp obtrusive edge

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obtrusively

adverb

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obtrusiveness

noun

See obtrusive defined for English-language learners

See obtrusive defined for kids

Examples of obtrusive in a Sentence

The waiter was attentive without being obtrusive.
We used less obtrusive colors in the bedrooms.

Recent Examples of obtrusive from the Web

Village spokeswoman Megan Hoffman said that approximately 25 nearby homeowners have been contacted about the situation and provided contingency instructions if the noise is too obtrusive.

— daniel i. dorfman, chicagotribune.com, "Glencoe Beach to close for cleaning of water pipe," 14 Aug. 2017
An open-air design and color scheme that mimics the sky should help make the coaster feel less obtrusive, coastal planners said.

— lori weisberg, sandiegouniontribune.com, "It's a go for SeaWorld's Electric Eel coaster," 10 Aug. 2017
Perhaps due to having more space, screenshots shown by TechCrunch and others show the feature occupying the top right slot on the screen, which is a slightly less obtrusive position.

— david meyer, Fortune, "Facebook’s Snapchat-Like Stories Feature is Coming to Desktop," 4 Aug. 2017
Photographer: Jamey Stillings And because solar panels are smaller and less visually obtrusive, clusters of them are more likely today to be built near neighborhoods.

— sam hall, Bloomberg.com, "Japan's Renewable-Energy Revolution," 13 July 2017
Each instrumentalist knew his place and how to maximize the overall arrangement by choosing the least obtrusive path to get there.

— bob gendron, chicagotribune.com, "Tom Petty brings a master class to Wrigley on 40th anniversary tour," 30 June 2017
In your head, though, a mental teleprompter is streaming a string of garbled words that make up your networking pitch, and thoughts of inadequacy and self-criticism become obtrusive.

— wendy rose gould, NBC News, "Your 7-Step Guide to Navigating Social Anxiety at a Networking Event," 14 May 2017
The sound design (by Rick Lombardo, who also directed) is not quite as obtrusive, but it, too, is part of a layering that suggests that the director doesn't trust the script.

— laura collins-hughes, New York Times, "Review: 'Albatross' Has an Ancient Mariner but Modern Technology," 19 Jan. 2017
If the author’s historical research becomes obtrusive, the illusion cracks.

— priya parmar, New York Times, "Queen Victoria in Fiction and Nonfiction," 1 Dec. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'obtrusive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of obtrusive

1667

obtrusive Synonyms

Synonyms

busy, interfering, intruding, meddlesome, meddling, nosy (or nosey), intrusive, officious, presuming, presumptuous, protrusive, prying, pushing, pushy, snoopy

Antonyms

unobtrusive

Related Words

bold, brazen, bumptious, impertinent, impudent, insolent, rude; invading, trespassing; curious, inquisitive; annoying, harassing, pestiferous; overbearing, superserviceable

Near Antonyms

hands-off; uninvolved; quiet, reclusive, reserved, reticent, retiring, silent, taciturn, withdrawn; inhibited, restrained, subdued

Synonym Discussion of obtrusive

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.