Intrude

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈtɹuːd/

Definitions

1. To enter a place or situation where one is unwanted or uninvited, often disrupting or interfering with others
2. To enter a space or activity without consent or invitation, often leading to disruption or discomfort among those present
3. To encroach upon someone else's domain or circumstance without permission, causing disturbance or tension within the vicinity

Etymology: "Intrude" is built from two Latin parts: "in-", meaning "into", and "trudere", "to thrust" or "push." Put together, the literal sense is to push oneself into a place where one is not wanted, and that physical shove is still visible in the modern meaning of entering without permission. The Latin verb "intrudere" passed into English from Latin itself rather than through French, which is why the word keeps its straightforward, almost mechanical sense of forcing an entry. The root "trudere" also gave English "thrust," "abstruse" (literally pushed away, hence hidden or obscure), and "extrude," which still means to push something out through an opening. Seeing "intrude" alongside these makes its core image clear: a thing forced into a space it does not belong in.

Synonyms: interfere, interrupt, trespass, invade, meddle

Antonyms: exclude, avoid, steer clear, dodge, respect