obtrusive

[uhb-troo-siv]

adjective

1. having or showing a disposition to obtrude, as by imposing oneself or one's opinions on others.

   Synonyms: presumptuous, officious, meddlesome

2. (of a thing) obtruding itself.

   an obtrusive error.

   Synonyms: blatant

3. protruding; projecting.

obtrusive

/ əbˈtruːsɪv /

adjective

1. obtruding or tending to obtrude

2. sticking out; protruding; noticeable

Other Word Forms

• obtrusively adverb
• obtrusiveness noun
• hyperobtrusive adjective
• hyperobtrusively adverb
• hyperobtrusiveness noun
• preobtrusive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of obtrusive¹

1660–70; < Latin obtrūs ( us ) ( obtrusion ) + -ive

Example Sentences

It’s playful but never too obtrusive, approaching an idea of how art and movies play with time and can conjure their own reality.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Those spiral racks are sculptural and arresting, but far from obtrusive.

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The timing felt obtrusive to the election and I believe the judge was biased throughout.

Read more on BBC

While wearable technologies with embedded sensors, such as smartwatches, are widely available, these devices can be uncomfortable, obtrusive and can inhibit the skin's intrinsic sensations.

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"There's an opportunity for less obtrusive methods of saving water to be more important than we originally thought," said lead author Anna Boser, a doctoral student at UCSB's Bren School of Environmental Science & Management.

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