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intrusive

intrusive

52 6.1
Entering where you are not wanted and disturbing someone's privacy
  • adjective
  • /ɪnˈtruːsɪv/
translation icon : intrusivo
  • She found his frequent questions about her personal life quite intrusive.
  • intrusive thoughts
  • intrusive monitoring
  • intrusive physical contact

And one of those manifestations is having intrusive thoughts about self harm.

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Examples

  • These unwanted and intrusive calls blight the lives of far too many of our citizens.

  • Her mother, though an extremely intrusive person, was also a source of comfort.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • So sometimes I do not want to be intrusive and tell them this is wrong.

  • The government remains intrusive in many areas, but much less so than before.

    Academic text (2008)
  • There is evidence that making academic and social support intrusive can improve outcomes.

    Academic text (2013)
  • EU regulation seems absurd and intrusive.

  • For all these reasons, Palestinians view these courts as hostile and intrusive rather than as legitimate.

    Academic text (1993)
  • After that, the memories became so constant and intrusive that I stopped performing solo concerts altogether.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • But no matter how he might phrase his question, it would be intrusive, moralistic, and offensive.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • ASAP, in its comprehensive approach, draws from our understanding of the necessity of intrusive supports for community college students.

    Academic text (2013)

Synonyms

invasive
vsintrusive
19 5.9

Entering private space or life in an unwanted way

enters without permission and disturbs someone's privacy or peace
nosey
vsintrusive
  • UK
8 5.5

Showing too much interest in other people's private lives

enters someone's private life and disturbs their peace rather than neutral curiosity
meddlesome
vsintrusive
8 7.2

Tending to get involved in other people's business and annoy them

enters private space or peace rather than actively trying to control situations
obtrusive
vsintrusive
4 7.2

Noticeable in a way that attracts unwanted attention

is about entering uninvited and disturbing someone's privacy rather than only being noticed
snoopy
vsintrusive
1 8.4

A person who is too interested in other people's private lives

enters personal boundaries and disturbs privacy rather than only asking questions
encroaching
vsintrusive
6.7

Gradually moving into an area where it is not wanted or allowed

enters where not wanted and disturbs privacy or peace
interfering
vsintrusive
5.7

A person who tries to control other people's lives

disturbs privacy or peace by entering uninvited rather than influencing decisions

Antonyms

Not causing trouble or interrupting what people do

How Intrusive

overbearing
30 5.8
invasive
19 5.9
intrusive
52 6.1
meddlesome
8 7.2
nosy
  • Offensive
60 3.4

Surface Forms

intrusive positive
intrusiver comparative
intrusivest superlative

Morphology

intrusive = intrude (transparent) = intrude + ive

Standard adjectival derivation from 'intrude' indicating a tendency to enter where not wanted, a meaning directly related to the verb.

Etymology

Intrusive comes from the verb intrude, based on Latin in- ('into') and trudere ('to push'), so an intrusive person or action is one that 'pushes into' someone else's space or life and feels unwanted or nosy.