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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective impertinent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of impertinent are intrusive, meddlesome, obtrusive, and officious. While all these words mean "given to thrusting oneself into the affairs of others," impertinent implies exceeding the bounds of propriety in showing interest or curiosity or in offering advice.

resented their impertinent interference

When can intrusive be used instead of impertinent?

The meanings of intrusive and impertinent largely overlap; however, intrusive implies a tactless or otherwise objectionable thrusting into others' affairs.

tried to be helpful without being intrusive

When would meddlesome be a good substitute for impertinent?

In some situations, the words meddlesome and impertinent are roughly equivalent. However, meddlesome stresses an annoying and usually prying interference in others' affairs.

a meddlesome landlord

In what contexts can obtrusive take the place of impertinent?

The synonyms obtrusive and impertinent are sometimes interchangeable, but obtrusive stresses improper or offensive conspicuousness of interfering actions.

expressed an obtrusive concern for his safety

When could officious be used to replace impertinent?

The words officious and impertinent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, officious implies the offering of services or attentions that are unwelcome or annoying.

officious friends made the job harder

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of impertinent Starting out as a stand-up in her native Detroit and then getting her big break on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In in 1969, Tomlin, now 84, invented iconic characters — from Ernestine, an impertinent telephone operator, to Edith Ann, a precocious 5-year-old — both absurd and sweet but undeniably human. Jason Sheeler, Peoplemag, 30 May 2024 Beyond the Biennale, Christoph Büchel’s frenzied exhibition at the Fondazione Prada assembles mountains of junk and jewels into an impertinent exposé of wealth and debt, colonialism and collecting. Jason Farago, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024 The initial inquiry about aftershave was impertinent and, as it was delivered to the whole room, could simply have been ignored. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024 The third season of Slow Horses, Apple TV+’s magnificent, impertinent spy series, begins with a feint: two lovers chasing state secrets in Istanbul, followed by a thrilling boat chase across the Bosphorus that turns into a car chase that ends in tragedy. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2023 See all Example Sentences for impertinent 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impertinent
Adjective
  • Find someone who can be a sounding board and wise adviser with high mutual trust.
    Gregory Crawford, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Directed by Gia Coppola, Anderson was joined by a stellar cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays Shelly's wise and fiercely loyal best friend Annette; Dave Bautista as stage manager Eddie; Billie Lourd as Shelly's daughter Hannah and Shipka and Song as dancers Jodie and Mary-Anne.
    Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Less than one day into 2025, the superstar has already punched in with one of her characteristic comebacks, shutting down a troll who demanded new music and called her a rude name on Instagram Wednesday (Jan. 1).
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 2 Jan. 2025
  • Several replies praised the user for taking such direct action against someone who was rude to them.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • All the logical arguments in the world, however, are irrelevant if fans believe something is off about the product and change the channel.
    Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Through multiple appeals over the years, his legal team questioned Gauci’s testimony and conflict of interests, the bomb timer, and evidence not originally heard in court about a security breach at Heathrow airport which would change the bag’s origin and render Malta irrelevant.
    Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • More specifically, the impudent Skull Kid steals the Ocarina of Time and turns Link into a Deku Scrub, those antagonistic tree cannons first introduced in Ocarina.
    Ashley Bardhan, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
  • In short, Moscow sees Montenegro as both strategically valuable and an impudent upstart that has thumbed its nose at the Russian bear while genuflecting before NATO and Washington.
    Edward P. Joseph, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2016
Adjective
  • The officers weren't rude, angry, or insolent — as required of a battery conviction — and used their training and legal authority to do their jobs.
    Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Dec. 2024
  • Her subversive and dominating personality, and sometimes insolent rhetoric in her active X presence set her apart from the likes of other female AI chatbots, such as Siri whose aim is to assist and serve.
    Fatemeh Fannizadeh, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Bloomberg/Getty Images The Biden administration announced a bold and controversial new export control scheme today, designed to prevent the advanced chips and artificial intelligence models themselves from ending up in the hands of adversaries such as China.
    Will Knight, WIRED, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Breathing new life into a space that struggled to find its footing in the past, Chef Cabrera has brought a bold new vision to the table, blending Napa’s storied food scene with refreshing coastal flavors that undeniably deserve recognition in the culinary world.
    Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • High-profile mass shootings at the Crown Center shopping center and the Chiefs Super Bowl victory rally at Union Station heralded a violent start to the year for Kansas City in 2024, shocking the public with their brazen nature and widespread impact.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The big picture: UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty spoke at length Thursday about the brazen public shooting of Brian Thompson — who led the UnitedHealthcare division — and the company's role in the industry.
    Nathan Bomey, Axios, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • If the company gets cocky and goes too high, that could ruin a lot of the appeal here.
    Chris Welch, The Verge, 6 Jan. 2025
  • The mention of a weapon sets off one officer: Jaime Pino, a 20-year veteran with the cocky manner and imposing presence of a TV cop.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025

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Thesaurus Entries Near impertinent

Cite this Entry

“Impertinent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impertinent. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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