Use intrusive for questions, surveillance, ads, comments, or behavior that crosses personal boundaries. Invasive is similar, but it can sound stronger or more physical.
Use intrusive for questions, surveillance, ads, comments, or behavior that crosses personal boundaries. Invasive is similar, but it can sound stronger or more physical.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The question was very intrusion. | The question was very intrusive. |
| He intrusive asked about my salary. | He asked an intrusive question about my salary. |
| Intrusive always means illegal. | Intrusive means unwelcome or interfering, not always illegal. |
| The intrusive was annoying. | The intrusive behavior was annoying. |
Use intrusive carefully in mental-health contexts for unwanted thoughts, memories, or images. The word describes the experience of them arriving uninvited, not an intention or desire.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Intrusive thoughts are always intentions. | Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts, not necessarily intentions. |
| She had an intrusion thought. | She had an intrusive thought. |
| Intrusive thought means creative idea. | Intrusive thought means an unwanted thought or image. |
| He was intrusive by a memory. | He was troubled by an intrusive memory. |
Use intrusive in geology for igneous rocks formed below the surface. Contrast it with extrusive, which describes rocks formed from volcanic material cooling at the surface.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The lava was intrusive on the surface. | The magma formed intrusive rock underground. |
| Intrusive rock cools above ground. | Intrusive rock cools below ground. |
| All igneous rock is intrusive. | Igneous rock can be intrusive or extrusive. |
| The intrusive was granite. | The intrusive rock was granite. |
Use the sense from context: a question can be intrusive, an unwanted thought can be intrusive, and igneous rock formed underground can be intrusive.
Intrusive does not always mean illegal or violent. It often means unwelcome, too personal, or boundary-crossing.
From intrude, from Latin intrudere, formed from in- and trudere, to thrust or push. The basic idea is pushing in or entering uninvited, which extended to behavior, thoughts, and geology.
What does intrusive mean?
It means unwelcome, too personal, or interfering. In geology it also describes igneous rock formed below the surface.
What is an intrusive question?
It is a question that feels too personal or invades someone's privacy.
What are intrusive thoughts?
They are unwanted thoughts, images, memories, or impulses that enter the mind and may feel distressing.
Is intrusive always negative?
In everyday use it is usually negative. In geology it is a neutral technical term.
What is intrusive rock?
Intrusive rock is igneous rock formed when magma cools and solidifies below Earth's surface.
What is the opposite of intrusive?
Possible opposites include unobtrusive, discreet, respectful, and, in geology, extrusive.
How do you use intrusive in a sentence?
For example: The interview questions felt too intrusive.