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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
2
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
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Recent Examples of intruding
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
But instead of being destroyed like other intruding pathogens, the spores germinate and multiply.
—Hannah Kinzer, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
This vireo actually is singing its song to woo a mate or deter another potential romantic partner from intruding on its territory.
—Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
These types of claims are generally where a neighbor is intruding onto your property and causing damage without any consent to do so.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026
Rewatching bits and pieces of the director’s filmography this week, the ongoing investigation into the killings of Reiner and his wife kept intruding.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
Supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s long-standing Research for Civil Security program, the system uses an extendable net to safely capture intruding drones without causing debris or collateral damage.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Nov. 2025
Romania is yet to down any intruding Russian munitions.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 11 Nov. 2025
China should also agree to hold fewer and smaller military exercises around Taiwan and stop intruding into Taiwan’s contiguous zone, which extends 24 nautical miles around the island.
—Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
Where that movie was about one man intruding upon everyone else’s thoughts, however, this one is about everyone else’s thoughts intruding upon one man.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
But instead of being destroyed like other intruding pathogens, the spores germinate and multiply.
—Hannah Kinzer, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
This vireo actually is singing its song to woo a mate or deter another potential romantic partner from intruding on its territory.
—Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
These types of claims are generally where a neighbor is intruding onto your property and causing damage without any consent to do so.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026
Rewatching bits and pieces of the director’s filmography this week, the ongoing investigation into the killings of Reiner and his wife kept intruding.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
Supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research’s long-standing Research for Civil Security program, the system uses an extendable net to safely capture intruding drones without causing debris or collateral damage.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Nov. 2025
Romania is yet to down any intruding Russian munitions.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 11 Nov. 2025
China should also agree to hold fewer and smaller military exercises around Taiwan and stop intruding into Taiwan’s contiguous zone, which extends 24 nautical miles around the island.
—Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intruding
Adjective
-
With busy schedules, sitting down to eat a meal as a family can be tricky and cause feelings of guilt.—
Dr. Sarah Kinsella,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Each carried one passenger in the back seat, all of them busy on their phones.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Like a rare daylight-visible meteor, a brilliant red fireball flashed before my eyes, interrupting a mindless moment of communion with nature.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
That’s a reference to what Duncan always intended, and rightly so, as a holistic approach to the problem of violent crime, involving not just violence interrupting by former gang members turned peacekeepers but better education and job opportunities for the young people most at risk.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The next shower to peak is the Eta Aquariids on May 5-6, when sky-gazers can expect to see less than 10 meteors per hour because of the interfering moonlight, according to the American Meteor Society.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
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Bonta filed an emergency petition with the state Fourth Court of Appeals on Monday to stop Bianco, a candidate in the 2026 governor’s race, after Bianco seized 657,322 ballots and accused Bonta of interfering in his office’s investigation into voter fraud.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The LitterLens takes a less intrusive approach.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The family is close-knit, intrusive, rude and menacing.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But now, with its Major League Baseball opening night rights, the streamer is messing with the wrong fan base.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Tulane’s other big contingent, activist investors, have been a bit defanged by AI, which is messing with companies’ strategies and their ability to credibly critique them.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When Sonny eventually passes out, Chee starts doing some snooping around.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Thornton, a vice president of strategic communications who has worked downtown for 17 years, including a decade with AIMCLEAR, was no stranger to snooping on behalf of his colleagues and his employer.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
5 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Intruding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intruding. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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