as in busy
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited
a relentlessly intruding child who likes to interrupt adult conversations simply to get attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in interrupting
to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion
forgive me for intruding, but I think I know where that restaurant is
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in interfering
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern
the story of a would-be matchmaker who intrudes into the lives of her friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of intruding
Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
South Florida will have no way to send water to the ocean, and no way to stop salt water from intruding into its water supply.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2026
There are worse things that could happen than Jimmy Fallon intruding upon your life in the game and being forced to adapt to that.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Where that movie was about one man intruding upon everyone else’s thoughts, however, this one is about everyone else’s thoughts intruding upon one man.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
But instead of being destroyed like other intruding pathogens, the spores germinate and multiply.
—Hannah Kinzer, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
This vireo actually is singing its song to woo a mate or deter another potential romantic partner from intruding on its territory.
—Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
These types of claims are generally where a neighbor is intruding onto your property and causing damage without any consent to do so.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026
Rewatching bits and pieces of the director’s filmography this week, the ongoing investigation into the killings of Reiner and his wife kept intruding.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
Verb
Still, real life also has a way of intruding.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 June 2026
South Florida will have no way to send water to the ocean, and no way to stop salt water from intruding into its water supply.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2026
There are worse things that could happen than Jimmy Fallon intruding upon your life in the game and being forced to adapt to that.
—Emily Longeretta, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Where that movie was about one man intruding upon everyone else’s thoughts, however, this one is about everyone else’s thoughts intruding upon one man.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
But instead of being destroyed like other intruding pathogens, the spores germinate and multiply.
—Hannah Kinzer, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
This vireo actually is singing its song to woo a mate or deter another potential romantic partner from intruding on its territory.
—Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
These types of claims are generally where a neighbor is intruding onto your property and causing damage without any consent to do so.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026
Rewatching bits and pieces of the director’s filmography this week, the ongoing investigation into the killings of Reiner and his wife kept intruding.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intruding
Adjective
-
Visitors from around the world now regularly stop in, and Cook says that drag in her hometown has never been busier.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
From a viral sand cat to an airport explosives arrest, the Sacramento region saw a busy stretch of news in early June.—
Ruyuan Li. Summary produced by AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
He was charged last week with impairing or interrupting operation of critical infrastructure facility.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
-
Abdulrahman Oriyomi, 25, was charged with felony impairing or interrupting operation of a critical infrastructure facility last week and was booked into jail in Harris County, Texas, on Friday, according to court records.—
Sneha Dhandapani,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The game was not yet codified, and teachers let students organize games without interfering in their play.—
Thomas Adam,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
-
She was sentenced — correctly — for interfering in an election in her county and for allowing unauthorized access to the voting equipment, not for expressing her personal opinion.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Poor reputation likely stems from a combination of the chemical’s greasy feel, intrusive smell and name, which is similar to DDT.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
-
Pauses present not only a greater risk of intrusive thoughts, but also a greater opportunity to recalibrate after the hyper-arousal state of playing a point at full intensity, or experiencing the emotional high or low of winning a set or having their serve broken.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Nevertheless, taking proactive steps to deal with hair, slime, soap scum, and other things messing with your pipes can save you a major plumbing headache down the line.—
Abby Monteil,
The Spruce,
2 June 2026
-
Punisher is messing with him, and the gun goes off.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Besides the risk of Oracle snooping into your business, there’s also the possibility of regulatory capture — that is, because Ellison is so tight with the Trumps, what remains of the government watchdogs won’t stop it.—
Elizabeth Lopatto,
The Verge,
29 Apr. 2026
-
This leads to a lively scene where Carl and his glowering right-hand man make an impromptu visit to Hypergnosis headquarters and demand a demonstration of Duncan’s snooping network.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Intruding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intruding. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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