1
2
3

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

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 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
  • The Camino is wise; its lessons come slowly, mile by mile, day by day.
    Daniela Diaz, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Even if the snow continuously falls, removing it before more than four inches accumulates is wise, as large amounts of snow are significantly more difficult to remove.
    Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • At the time, Pearce called out a rude fan while performing at WE Fest in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Anti-Tesla sentiment is at an all-time high, whether expressed through rude bumper stickers and peaceful protest or vandalism and arson, in part because Musk has continually stoked tension with his far-right politics.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The rationale is straightforward: like early-stage startups in the dot-com era, some of these assets may eventually prove valuable, whereas many others will likely become irrelevant.
    Christian Catalini, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • What’s practical for one person may be irrelevant for another.
    Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 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
  • Parthenope is inscrutable yet expressive, insolent yet heroic, magnetic yet unattainable, loving yet selfish.
    Mike Miller, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • And Timothée Chalamet, nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Bob Dylan, made a splash, showing up in a bold pale yellow Givenchy suit, adorned with gold jewelry.
    Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 2 Mar. 2025
  • New Balance 327 Shoes Everything about these New Balance shoes is chunky — the treads, the sole, and even the logo have a bold display that any maximalist dresser would find impressive.
    Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • It’s gone on for so long, builders have become brazen.
    Josh Salman, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
  • If that turns out to be the case, legal experts and government officials say, the administration will have defied a federal judge’s order in a brazen gambit to continue dismantling USAID.
    Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Theroux treasures every silly little turn his cocky boss man gets to take.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2025
  • That Johnson, who has never been a head coach before, felt cocky enough to tell that story on the podium is a great thing.
    Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Impertinent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impertinent. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on impertinent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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