officious

adjective

ə-ˈfi-shəs How to pronounce officious (audio)
Definition of officiousnext
as in busy
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited an officious little man who was always telling everyone else how to do their jobs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective officious contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of officious are impertinent, intrusive, meddlesome, and obtrusive. While all these words mean "given to thrusting oneself into the affairs of others," officious implies the offering of services or attentions that are unwelcome or annoying.

officious friends made the job harder

When is it sensible to use impertinent instead of officious?

The words impertinent and officious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 officious?

Although the words intrusive and officious have much in common, intrusive implies a tactless or otherwise objectionable thrusting into others' affairs.

tried to be helpful without being intrusive

Where would meddlesome be a reasonable alternative to officious?

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

a meddlesome landlord

When could obtrusive be used to replace officious?

The meanings of obtrusive and officious largely overlap; however, obtrusive stresses improper or offensive conspicuousness of interfering actions.

expressed an obtrusive concern for his safety

Example 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 officious The former is the nerdier, more officious type in his bow tie and sport coat, the latter more rakish, a one-time rabble rouser who’s just happy to have something interesting to do. — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025 Fast & Furious is notable for adding the character Gisele (Gal Gadot) and smaller players like Shea Whigham's officious Stasiak. — Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025 Her charming luxury treasure trove has none of that officious chilliness that defines the typical store of its ilk but instead feels like a brocanterie crammed with interesting, unexpected luxury goods from across the world. — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2023 Cronenberg, in turn, has maintained a cool contempt for officious pundits and their agendas. — Adam Nayman, The New Yorker, 3 June 2022 See All Example Sentences for officious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for officious
  1. busy
  2. intrusive
  3. meddlesome
  4. obtrusive
  5. annoying
Adjective
  • The best travel accessories are the ones that quietly earn a permanent spot in your carry-on, and Amazon’s outlet has some useful finds ahead of the busy holiday travel season.
    — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Emily Ratajkowski has been keeping busy in Los Angeles, mixing daring mirror selfies with a little romance.
    — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of busy
Adjective
  • The documentary angle, of course, is this great director probing the ethics in his own vocation as an intrusive force, one that shapes lives, emotions and, in this case, the weight of a genuine tragedy.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Talking about wills, medical wishes, funeral arrangements or who will handle the finances if a parent becomes incapacitated can feel intrusive, particularly when a parent is still healthy and independent.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of intrusive
Adjective
  • The Greek myths are rife with petty and meddlesome deities squabbling, playing favorites, punishing harshly, and otherwise wreaking havoc on the lives of mortal men.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • The unit's playing time in those games had been limited by a combination of blowouts (wins and losses), minute restrictions (Aaron Gordon) and meddlesome minor injuries (Jamal Murray's ankle and shoulder).
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of meddlesome
Adjective
  • This not only includes obtrusive social media collaborations but high-profile celebrity endorsements, partnership deals with sports leagues and organizations, and viral tactics employed by the biggest names online.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
  • To that end, players of Belmira’s City by Michael Heizer [Free Version], which anyone can try by clicking here, must start behind an intentionally obtrusive no-trespassing fence.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of obtrusive
Adjective
  • Imagine a congressional coalition formed by kicking out the lawmakers, on either side, who are annoying—the Ted Cruzes and the John Fettermans.
    — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Indeed, the survey showed that use of the horn is the most common action when drivers consider another driver to be annoying or angering them.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of annoying

Browse Nearby Words

officinal
officious
officiousness
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Officious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/officious. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All