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Definition of intrusivenext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective intrusive contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of intrusive are impertinent, meddlesome, obtrusive, and officious. While all these words mean "given to thrusting oneself into the affairs of others," intrusive implies a tactless or otherwise objectionable thrusting into others' affairs.

tried to be helpful without being intrusive

When could impertinent be used to replace intrusive?

While the synonyms impertinent and intrusive are close in meaning, impertinent implies exceeding the bounds of propriety in showing interest or curiosity or in offering advice.

resented their impertinent interference

When is it sensible to use meddlesome instead of intrusive?

The synonyms meddlesome and intrusive are sometimes interchangeable, but meddlesome stresses an annoying and usually prying interference in others' affairs.

a meddlesome landlord

When is obtrusive a more appropriate choice than intrusive?

Although the words obtrusive and intrusive have much in common, obtrusive stresses improper or offensive conspicuousness of interfering actions.

expressed an obtrusive concern for his safety

When might officious be a better fit than intrusive?

The meanings of officious and intrusive largely overlap; however, officious implies the offering of services or attentions that are unwelcome or annoying.

officious friends made the job harder

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of intrusive For Gen Z in particular, there is little patience for algorithms that feel intrusive. Cecile Van Steenberge, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025 Shane has an ultra hands-on mother (Christina Chang), who is eager to help market and monetize his boundary-breaking biracial celebrity, as well as a less aggressively intrusive father (Dylan Walsh). Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025 The agency has also reinstated more intrusive background measures, including the return of neighborhood and workplace checks for some naturalization applicants, and ended certain benefit extensions, such as the automatic extension for employment authorization documents. Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025 Bentley’s film—co-written by Greg Kwedar, who directed Sing Sing and co-wrote that movie with Bentley—is linear, only looking backward or forward for fleeting, intrusive shots in montages that evoke a life being summarized in a breathless, rushed fashion, maybe not even by the person who lived it. Rory Doherty, Time, 21 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for intrusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intrusive
Adjective
  • Visiting the restaurant has become an expression of the purest form of Panthers fandom — and that’s helped make this week quite busy ahead of the Panthers’ first home playoff game in 10 years.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Those who remain are concentrated in Venezuela’s cities, including its capital, Caracas, where the street market in the Catia neighborhood once was so busy that shoppers bumped into one another and dodged oncoming traffic.
    Regina Garcia Cano, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • There’s a fine line between obtrusive service, with servers buzzing like flies around the table, and inattentive service.
    Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
  • These harnesses are less obtrusive but easier for cats to escape from.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The former is the nerdier, more officious type in his bow tie and sport coat, the latter more rakish, a one-time rabble rouser who’s just happy to have something interesting to do.
    Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Fast & Furious is notable for adding the character Gisele (Gal Gadot) and smaller players like Shea Whigham's officious Stasiak.
    Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Meynecke said his footage suggested the whales found their hangers-on annoying.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Thankfully, the best faux garlands offer the look and oftentimes feel of the real thing without the sticky sap or annoying cleanup.
    Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The fact is, in a newsroom full of meddlesome, sometimes pushy people, Beverly was none of that.
    Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The special ops unit chases every lead possible, from bribes to Mexican drug cartels, a meddlesome L.A. District Attorney (Merrick McCartha) and corruption in the government of Belarus.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intrusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intrusive. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on intrusive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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