obtrusive

adjective

ob·tru·sive | \ əb-ˈtrü-siv

, -ziv, äb-\

Definition of obtrusive

1a : 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

Other Words from obtrusive Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about obtrusive

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Choose the Right Synonym for 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. 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 obtrusive in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

But buying a tethered headset (e.g. Oculus Rift or HTC Vive) means being permanently tied to a bulky computer tower via an obtrusive cable. — Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, "Vive’s wireless adapter gives the best VR experience lots of money can buy," 26 Sep. 2018 Pricing drugs based on their uses would reduce the need for obtrusive management techniques. — Roger D. Klein, WSJ, "Price Drugs According to What They Do," 8 Jan. 2019 Another free service is TwitWipe, which effectively does the same thing but is chock-full of obtrusive advertising and a bit harder to use. — Nick Statt, The Verge, "How to delete your Twitter history," 26 July 2018 Both of these new examples are less obtrusive than the most famous Apple push notification, which informed more than 500 million people that Apple had purchased and given them a free copy of U2’s Songs of Innocence. — Nick Statt, The Verge, "Apple sent iPhone owners unwanted push notifications to promote Carpool Karaoke," 18 Dec. 2018 This can make your eyes pump out more tears to flush away debris, or your lashes might help sweep away any obtrusive pieces of matter, the Mayo Clinic explains. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Here’s Why Your Eyes Are Burning When You Put In Your Contacts," 10 Oct. 2018 Lisio does, however, manage a cameo in the final cut that aired last week (around the 3:50 mark in the video below) in a far less obtrusive manner — by laying in Targalski’s lap, getting petted as the professor conducts a seated interview. — Amy B Wang, Washington Post, "A professor was giving a TV interview about Polish politics. His cat didn’t care.," 9 July 2018 Some jarring comic absurdism is added through the unusually obtrusive presence of Aunt March’s parrot. — New York Times, "Review: ‘Little Women,’ Through British Eyes," 11 May 2018 Lisio does, however, manage a cameo in the final cut that aired last week in a far less obtrusive manner – by laying in Targalski’s lap, getting petted as the professor conducts a seated interview. — Amy B Wang, The Seattle Times, "A professor was giving a TV interview about Polish politics. His cat didn’t care.," 9 July 2018

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.