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, Irvine, Irving, Irvingite

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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