What does obtrusion mean?
An obtrusion is the act of pushing oneself, one's opinions, or one's attention into a situation where it is unwelcome or distracting. The word is especially associated with excessive self-promotion, unwanted intrusion, and the forceful expression of views that other people may not have invited. It can describe a person's behaviour, as when a speaker's frequent interjections become an obtrusion, or an editorial practice, such as the obtrusion of advertising into an article. Although it resembles words such as intrusion and imposition, it often carries a slightly formal tone and focuses particularly on conspicuous or uninvited presence. Because it is uncommon in everyday conversation, it is most effective in literary, journalistic, or analytical prose. Even so, it provides an exact and dignified term for an experience that many people describe more generally as someone forcing themselves upon everyone else.
nounThe act of making oneself or one's opinions conspicuous, especially in a way that is unwelcome or intrusive. It can also refer more generally to the act of forcing oneself upon others.
- The act of forcing oneself, one's attention, or one's opinions upon others.
- The quality or condition of being conspicuously intrusive or unwelcome.
"Her self-promotion had become an irritating obtrusion at the front of the meeting."
"The magazine's interview with the celebrity was an unwelcome obtrusion into his private life."
"She objected to the obtrusion of unrelated advertising into the discussion."
The plural is grammatically regular but rarely needed because the noun itself is uncommon.
"The curator rejected several obtrusions that disrupted the quiet arrangement of the gallery."
This uncommon noun names the subtle social offense of making yourself impossible to ignore.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does obtrusion come from?
Obtrusion comes from the Latin obtrudere, meaning "to thrust forward" or "force upon," formed from ob- "against or toward" and trudere "to push." Its noun sense developed from the act of thrusting something or someone forward, especially forcing oneself upon others. The same root appears in English words including obtrude, obtrusive, intrude, extrude, protrude, and the Latin-derived trudere.
Related word forms
How obtrusion is actually used
This is a formal and relatively uncommon word. It is often used in contexts involving unwanted attention, self-promotion, intrusion, or the imposition of one's views on others.
Easily confused with obtrusion
An intrusion is an unwanted entry or interference, whereas an obtrusion more specifically emphasizes the act of making oneself or one's views conspicuously present.