English Explanatory Dictionary

obtrusive

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj

Of a person: overly assertive, bold, or domineering; pushy; also, ostentatious.
Of a thing: noticeable or prominent, especially in a displeasing way.
Protruding or sticking out, especially in a way that obstructs.

Pronunciation

/əbˈtɹuːsɪv/ /ɒb-/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-obtrusive.wav /əbˈtɹusɪv/ /ɑb-/

Word forms

obtrusive more obtrusive most obtrusive

Etymology

PIE word *h₁epi From Latin obtrūsus + English -ive (suffix meaning ‘of the nature of’, forming adjectives). Obtrūsus is the perfect passive participle of obtrūdō, a variant of obstrūdō (“to push, shove, or thrust against or into”), from ob- (prefix meaning ‘against; towards’) + trūdō (“to push, shove, or thrust”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *trewd- (“to push; to thrust”)).

Synonyms

intrusive overassertive overbearing sharp-elbowed authoritarian autocratic bossy coercive commanding controlling demanding despotic dictatorial dominant domineering forceful harsh heavy-handed iron-fisted iron-handed monocratic obtrusive oppressive strict tyrannical in-your-face ostentatious bulging jutting exserted extuberant outstanding projecting projectory prominent promontorial protruding protuberant protuberous salient

Antonyms

inobtrusive nonobtrusive unobtrusive discreet

Related words

detrude extrude intrude obtrude retrude

Derived words

hyperobtrusive inobtrusive inobtrusively inobtrusiveness nonobtrusive obtrusively obtrusiveness semiobtrusive unobtrusive unobtrusively unobtrusiveness

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