irruptive

[ ih-ruhp-tiv ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by irruption.
2. irrupting or tending to irrupt.
3. Petrology. intrusive.

Other Words From

• ir·ruptive·ly adverb
• unir·ruptive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of irruptive¹

First recorded in 1585–95; irrupt + -ive

Example Sentences

“I’m not sure if pine grosbeak are irruptive, but maybe that is part of the equation as they only show up in the valley like this once every 10 years.”

From Washington Times

“Underlying the irruptive element of danger and incorrigible gaiety . . . was a fundamental vulnerability.”

From New York Times

When fortune or necessity diverts our attention from this congenial ideal sport to crude facts and pressing issues, we turn our frail poetic ideas into symbols for those terrible irruptive things.

From Project Gutenberg

The chalice was deep enough to hold two gallons of liquid, the pistil was red, and the supporting stem was gnarled and irruptive with excrescences.

From Project Gutenberg

In their absence religion would most probably have failed to be the fiercely irruptive force in life that it has been.

From Project Gutenberg