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.
The new scheme encourages passengers to report incidents on the train such as staring, intrusive questions and unwelcome comments.
From BBC • May 21, 2026
Some local residents have long pressed leaders to act, saying that intrusive noise could worsen post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments.
From Salon • Apr. 27, 2026
It would be much less intrusive than taxing income, much less complicated, and it would be fairer.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 2026
Those being vetted then have to undergo an interview with a specially trained vetting officer, which is designed to be intrusive.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
Normally, Edward would have found intrusive, clingy behavior of this sort very annoying, but there was something about Sarah Ruth.
From "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" by Kate DiCamillo
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.
