Meaning & use
intrusiveness
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Meanings
noununcountable
the quality of becoming involved in other people's private matters when you are not wanted
Grammar: Used without 'a' or a plural: 'its intrusiveness', not 'an intrusiveness'.
Patterns
- the intrusiveness of something
- reduce intrusiveness
- criticize something for its intrusiveness
Many workers complain about the intrusiveness of constant monitoring software.
She disliked the intrusiveness of the questions about her marriage.
The new security checks were criticized for their intrusiveness.
noununcountabletechnical
the quality of affecting something in a way that is noticeable and unwanted
Grammar: Often used about technology, noise, or design that interrupts normal activity.
Patterns
- the intrusiveness of a design
- reduce the intrusiveness of something
Engineers are trying to reduce the intrusiveness of the device during surgery.
The intrusiveness of the alarm made it hard to concentrate.
They redesigned the app to limit its intrusiveness.
Common combinations
- the intrusiveness of
- The report examines the intrusiveness of advertising aimed at children.
- perceived intrusiveness
- Users' perceived intrusiveness of the ads was higher than expected.
- reduce intrusiveness
- A simpler pop-up can reduce intrusiveness.
- criticize the intrusiveness
- Privacy groups criticized the intrusiveness of the data collection.
Synonyms and how they differ
- meddling
- Focuses on the act of interfering rather than the quality; 'meddling' is usually countable or used as a gerund.
- interference
- Suggests getting in the way of something, not necessarily private matters.
- nosiness
- Informal and disapproving; specifically about being too curious about others' lives.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: intrusiveness or intrusion?
intrusiveness vs intrusion
An intrusion is a single act or event; intrusiveness is the quality of being intrusive.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'intrusiveness' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Intrusiveness' is an uncountable noun, so it fits after 'the' and before 'of': 'the intrusiveness of the new policy'. Option A uses it as if it were a countable noun with 'of' but the structure is awkward; option C uses it as an adverb; option D uses it as an adjective.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “intrusiveness”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.