intrusive
Americanadjective
-
tending or apt to intrude; coming without invitation or welcome.
intrusive memories of a lost love.
- Synonyms:
- disturbing, irritating, troublesome, worrisome, irksome, bothersome, annoying
-
characterized by or involving intrusion.
-
intruding; thrusting in.
-
Geology.
-
(of a rock) having been forced between preexisting rocks or rock layers while in a molten or plastic condition.
-
noting or pertaining to plutonic rocks.
-
-
Phonetics. excrescent.
adjective
-
characterized by intrusion or tending to intrude
-
(of igneous rocks) formed by intrusion Compare extrusive
-
phonetics relating to or denoting a speech sound that is introduced into a word or piece of connected speech for a phonetic rather than a historical or grammatical reason, such as the (r) often pronounced between idea and of in the idea of it
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of intrusive
late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at intrusion, -ive
Explanation
Something intrusive is getting in your face or invading your space. Nosey questions, a poke in the ribs, and a hovering mother are all intrusive. Things that are intrusive are a real pain in the neck: they intrude on you. If someone asks you a million questions, especially personal questions, that's intrusive behavior. When photographers hound celebrities, they're being intrusive. If a rock is sticking out and getting in people's way, then it's intrusive. All meanings of intrusive involve something being where it doesn't belong.
Vocabulary lists containing intrusive
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
One of Us Is Lying
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Earth Science - Middle School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When someone calls her out of the blue, it can feel intrusive and give her a lot of anxiety.
From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2026
"Overhead alternatives" would only be allowed "where installation is via low wooden poles or equivalent, less intrusive infrastructure".
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
But stunningly high numbers of women report having intrusive thoughts about harming their children—moments when their own brains betray them, when it’s clear that none of us are in total control over our own minds.
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026
The UK media has long been criticised for being too intrusive, and moves have been made to curtail some of its worse excesses, while balancing the need for press freedoms.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
Pair an intrusive, usually ignorant, and often suspicious press corps with an intensely private trainer, and you have a volatile mix.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
