intrusive

American  

[in-troo-siv] / ɪnˈtru sɪv /

adjective

1. tending or apt to intrude; coming without invitation or welcome.

   intrusive memories of a lost love.

   Synonyms:

   disturbing, irritating, troublesome, worrisome, irksome, bothersome, annoying

2. characterized by or involving intrusion.

3. intruding; thrusting in.

4. Geology.

   1. (of a rock) having been forced between preexisting rocks or rock layers while in a molten or plastic condition.

   2. noting or pertaining to plutonic rocks.

5. Phonetics. excrescent.

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intrusive British  

/ ɪnˈtruːsɪv /

adjective

1. characterized by intrusion or tending to intrude

2. (of igneous rocks) formed by intrusion Compare extrusive

3. 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

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Other Word Forms

• intrusively adverb
• intrusiveness noun
• nonintrusive adjective
• nonintrusively adverb
• unintrusive adjective
• unintrusively adverb

Etymology

Origin of intrusive

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; intrusion, -ive

Example Sentences

Smith describes it as being like "intrusive thoughts" with "no malice, no hatred and it's uncontrollable", often in moments of high emotion such as when he is sad or happy.

From BBC

She is joined, yet again, by Courteney Cox’s intrusive newscaster, Gale Weathers, who is in all seven films and is meant to serve as a satiric commentary on journalism’s obsession with blood and gore.

From The Wall Street Journal

There was an outcry from opposition politicians, who said teenagers were being asked "intrusive and inappropriate" questions.

From BBC

However, the judge ruled the questions were "highly intrusive", particularly in the context of an HIV diagnosis.

From BBC

To provide continued support, workplaces need to have regular check-ins with their employees, but they don’t need to be intrusive.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• invasive
• nosy