obtrude

American  

[uhb-trood] / əbˈtrud /

verb (used with object)

obtruded, obtruding

1. to thrust (something) forward or upon a person, especially without warrant or invitation.

   to obtrude one's opinions upon others.

   Synonyms:

   force, impose

2. to thrust forth; push out.

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verb (used without object)

obtruded, obtruding

1. to thrust forward, especially unduly; intrude.

   Synonyms:

   push, shove

obtrude British  

/ əbˈtruːʒən, əbˈtruːd /

verb

1. to push (oneself, one's opinions, etc) on others in an unwelcome way

2. (tr) to push out or forward

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Other Word Forms

• obtruder noun
• obtrusion noun
• preobtrude verb (used with object)
• unobtruded adjective
• unobtruding adjective

Etymology

Origin of obtrude

1545–55; < Latin obtrūdere to thrust against, equivalent to ob- ob- + trūdere to thrust

Explanation

If you want to be rude, you'll obtrude, or thrust yourself to the front of a line without waiting. Who asked you? If the answer is no one, chances are you've decided to obtrude or shove your ideas and opinions into everyone's face. Obtrude has its origins in the Latin ob meaning "toward" and trudere meaning "to thrust." An intruder climbing through your kitchen window is someone who chooses to obtrude, or forcefully enter your home.

Example Sentences

The amount of stuff accumulating began to reach out from behind the store and obtrude into plain view; the amount of stuff disappearing from their properties was increasing.

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

But a producing interest can obtrude on the artistic process by imposing artificial deadlines and prioritizing the needs of the theater over the work itself.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2022

No such doubts obtrude upon the archaic fantasy world set up by the writers in the catalog to this show.

From Time Magazine Archive

It becomes charged thus with a medley of strange and incongruous imprints, which, so long as the lens keeps these submerged and subconscious—because unfocused on the plane of consciousness—do not obtrude upon mentality.

From Feminism and Sex-Extinction by Kenealy, Arabella

Although he was severe with her constitutional forgetfulness of dates, her father, at least, did not obtrude upon her the disgrace of extreme youth.

From The Open Question a tale of two temperaments by Robins, Elizabeth