INTRUDING Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

intruding 1 of 2

adjective

as in busy

thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited a relentlessly intruding child who likes to interrupt adult conversations simply to get attention

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

intruding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of intrude

as in interrupting

to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion forgive me for intruding, but I think I know where that restaurant is

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in interfering

to interest oneself in what is not one's concern the story of a would-be matchmaker who intrudes into the lives of her friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 intruding

Verb

The outstanding cinematography creates a shimmering and at times ethereal atmosphere without intruding on the characters. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026 The direct address to the press comes after his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann faced intense scrutiny and criticism from media and former members of the national team, intruding into his private life while in the role. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 24 July 2026 India and China accused each other’s troops of constructing infrastructure and intruding into their respective territories. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026 The company's autonomous drones fire nets at intruding drones. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 21 July 2026 In ornamental beds, install cardboard rings under the mulch around perennial or annual plants to stop weeds from intruding. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2026 No employee can even contemplate intruding on her, much less with news like this. — Literary Hub, 16 June 2026 Still, real life also has a way of intruding. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 June 2026 South Florida will have no way to send water to the ocean, and no way to stop salt water from intruding into its water supply. — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for intruding

Adjective

Erik Neander’s Oura Ring, a device that monitors heart rate and stress among other functions, had been busy in the days leading up to and during the American League Division Series against the Yankees.

— Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2026
Even on busy weekends, the staff are perfectly primed to welcome guests with Southern charm and efficiency.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of busy

Verb

And the tariffs are a terrible idea in any event, amounting to a consumer tax and interrupting crucial trade.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
In other words, the systems naturally ensure that only egregious and important errors get reviewed — because those are the only ones worthy of interrupting games.

— Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of interrupting

Verb

If this is the players insisting on this alignment, or ownership interfering in roster mechanics, this Oilers team is headed for disaster.

— Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
The terms of the restraining order will bar Gupta and his gallery from interfering at all with Longcraft’s interest in the works.

— News Desk, Artforum, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of interfering

Adjective

If preserving those rights requires an increasingly costly and intrusive enforcement apparatus, some of that advantage is lost.

— Joao Gomes, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Lawyers for prisoners said the state was minimizing its noncompliance, disputed its claim it had not been given enough time to comply after 14 years of litigation and said Silver had already tried less-intrusive remedies.

— Jacques Billeaud, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of intrusive

Verb

An alcoholic drink will give you a buzz, but if someone laced it with something dangerous, a new poison-snooping patch will buzz your skin to warn you.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026
Cady had injected some narcotic into a Georgia peach to knock Natalie out ahead of his confrontation with Crystal on the houseboat, but Ray snooping around on the Bowdens’s behalf led to this deadly improvisation.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 10 July 2026