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

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.

Example Sentences

He played an intrusive Airbnb host with Melissa McCarthy, who was also on board for the Five-Timers sketch.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

"He asked for my mobile phone and checked everything, even my photographs. It was extremely intrusive," she added.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Classifying a patient as cured also allows them to avoid intrusive, and sometimes painful, screening tests, like bone marrow biopsies.

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026

The deal, containing significant limitations on Iran subject to intrusive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, was working, in the opinions of the parties to the deal and the IAEA.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

He doesn’t seem upset that I’m in his room, but having seen what I’ve seen I feel intrusive nonetheless.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• invasive
• nosy