obtrusive

American  

[uhb-troo-siv] / əbˈtru sɪv /

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.

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obtrusive British  

/ əbˈtruːsɪv /

adjective

1. obtruding or tending to obtrude

2. sticking out; protruding; noticeable

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of obtrusive

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.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From Science Daily

"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.

From Science Daily

Choose some pieces with lighter legs and silhouettes that are less obtrusive.

From Seattle Times