intruder

/ɪnˈtrudər/

/ɪnˈtrudə/

Other forms: intruders

An intruder is someone who enters a place or situation despite not being invited. If a Girl Scout comes to your door to sell you cookies but ends up trying to watch TV with you, you can call her an intruder.

Some intruders are robbers who break into homes or businesses with the intent to steal things: "The intruder was charged with trespassing, and later was found to have stolen some jewelry and cash." Other intruders might instead invade someone's privacy. Intruder comes from the verb intrude, from the Latin root intrudere, "to thrust in," a combination of in- and trudere, "to thrust or to push."

Definitions of intruder

1. noun

   someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
   synonyms: interloper, trespasser

   types:

   boarder

   someone who forces their way aboard ship

   crasher, gatecrasher, unwelcome guest

   someone who gets in (to a party) without an invitation or without paying

   infiltrator

   an intruder (as troops) with hostile intent

   encroacher, invader

   someone who enters by force in order to conquer

   penetrator

   an intruder who passes into or through (often by overcoming resistance)

   prowler, sneak, stalker

   someone who prowls or sneaks about; usually with unlawful intentions

   pusher, thruster

   one who intrudes or pushes himself forward

   squatter

   someone who settles on land without right or title

   alien, stranger, unknown

   anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

   foreigner, outsider

   someone who is excluded from or is not a member of a group

   type of:

   persona non grata, unwelcome person

   a person who for some reason is not wanted or welcome

   entrant

   someone who enters