irruptive

[ ih-ruhp-tiv ]

/ ɪˈrʌp tɪv /

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adjective

of, relating to, or characterized by irruption.

irrupting or tending to irrupt.

Petrology. intrusive.

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Origin of irruptive

First recorded in 1585–95; irrupt + -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM irruptive

ir·rup·tive·ly, adverbun·ir·rup·tive, adjective

Words nearby irruptive

irritative, irrorate, irrotational, irrupt, irruption, irruptive, IRS, Irtysh, IRV, Irvine, Irvine-Gass syndrome

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use irruptive in a sentence

One was an irruptive craving within him to take some part in the dynamic activities of the surrounding world.
Average Jones|Samuel Hopkins Adams
They seem to be a necessary evil to be classed with smallpox, chicken-pox, yellow fever and other irruptive diseases.
Poems for Pale People|Edwin C. Ranck
In the meantime, concern and suspense and irruptive wrath had their chief abode in the inner room of Remington and Evans.
The Sturdy Oak|Samuel Merwin, et al.
Fact is, gallant little Wales was swamped by irruptive Ireland.
Punch, Or The London Charivari, Vol. 99., December 13, 1890|Various

In their absence religion would most probably have failed to be the fiercely irruptive force in life that it has been.
Religion & Sex|Chapman Cohen

British Dictionary definitions for irruptive

irruptive

/ (ɪˈrʌptɪv) /

adjective

irrupting or tending to irrupt

of, involving, or causing irruption

obsolete (of igneous rocks) intrusive

Derived forms of irruptive

irruptively, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012