obtrusive
Americanadjective
-
having or showing a disposition to obtrude, as by imposing oneself or one's opinions on others.
- Synonyms:
- presumptuous, officious, meddlesome
-
(of a thing) obtruding itself.
an obtrusive error.
- Synonyms:
- blatant
-
protruding; projecting.
adjective
-
obtruding or tending to obtrude
-
sticking out; protruding; noticeable
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of obtrusive
Explanation
The eight-foot-tall, hot pink statue of Minnie Mouse did not belong among the beige couches of the fancy living room. The statue was obtrusive, meaning it stood out in a bad way. Something that obtrudes sticks out, like a sore thumb. Wearing a snow suit and skis to your neighbor's pool party, or bringing steak tartare to a vegan potluck — these are examples of obtrusive behavior, which draws attention to you and makes you stick out, but not in a good way.
Vocabulary lists containing obtrusive
100 SAT words Beginning with "O"
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"The Purloined Letter" by Edgar Allan Poe
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Where Wolves Don't Die
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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 ● Nov. 6, 2025
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 ● May 24, 2024
Disguising every pylon in the country would likely be expensive and impractical; however the National Grid has made efforts to change the traditional design of a pylon into something less obtrusive.
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2023
It should be moved to a less obtrusive location: Maybe Sodo, maybe Seattle Center.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 18, 2022
Her rooms were so silent that the music seemed obtrusive.
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
